Results 541-560 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: On Senator Gavan's first point, I agree that the base rate needs to go up. I will say that very often people have associated financial supports as well, such as an the increase for a qualifying child, child benefit, other supports outside of my Department, such as the housing assistance payment, medical cards and so on. However, I agree with the Senator that we need to do something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Collective bargaining does no come within the remit of the Department of Social Protection, rather it is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. I am happy to bring the issue, and what is happening in that regard, to the table at next week's meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for emphasising the importance of that programme and I know the Minister is committed to it as well. I understand she will be making an announcement soon on the extension of that programme. It is something we will be looking to build on because it has a direct and tangible impact for people who need it most. I reiterate the point from earlier that even during lockdown...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I will try my best to keep my answer to two minutes. On that overall goal of facilitating work for all who can work, there are a number of categories within that where things are happening. For people with disabilities in particular, there are a couple of Dormant Accounts Fund projects in the Department of Social Protection that are doing good work in that regard. There are also wage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, about both areas. The Chair makes an interesting point on how the post offices could be used. We have a network of Citizens Information offices across the country. Some of them struggle with opening hours and renting premises. I will speak to the Minister about co-operation with the post offices as there may be some merit in that. The FoodCloud...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I wish to comment on the input made by the Chairman. In the programme of Government, and it has started in reality, there are additional supports for the horticulture industry to fill the space where we import produce that we could grow here. I also know that my colleagues in other Departments are interested in pushing that aspect. Specifically on the points made by Senator Garvey, food...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Roadmap to Social Inclusion: Discussion (23 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The CE scheme has a fairly straightforward eligibility criteria. Being stuck at home does not rule anyone out from accessing a CE scheme. Perhaps the rural social scheme might be relevant to the people mentioned. Possibly of more relevance is the fact that there will be 3,000 additional places, which were announced as part of the July stimulus package last year. We have put initial...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 309. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide financial assistance to a company (details supplied) to assist it in remaining financially viable. [14677/21]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Insurance Costs (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 475. To ask the Minister for Finance the efforts being made to ensure that the associated savings will be passed on to the customer by insurance companies on foot of the recent publication of new Judicial Council guidelines for personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15023/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 970, 1047 and 1048 together. The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis.  Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Department has introduced a number of contingency measures,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 972 and 1043 together. The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of long term  unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities on a temporary fixed term basis.  Its objective is to help long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The challenges caused by the Covid-19 public health restrictions introduced over the course of the last year, has impacted CE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 980 and 1014 together. Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. As the Deputy is aware, my Department has continued to provide funding and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1044 to 1046, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. The Department provides Public...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. The information sought by the Deputy is set out beneath. End Dec Participant Supervisor Total...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1050 and 1051 together. Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed-term basis. The table below identifies those individuals who have successfully entered...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Cancer Services (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 1378. To ask the Minister for Health the details of plans to work through the backlog of cancer diagnostics work that has been on hold due to Covid-19; the amount of additional resourcing dedicated to this area in budget 2021; and the exact processes that have restarted in terms of procedures used to diagnose cancer. [14083/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these challenges, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. Along with other broader Government initiatives, my Department has introduced a suite of programmes to support community and voluntary organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (24 Mar 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2091 and 2092 together. I can confirm that since 2019, €2million of Dormant Accounts Funding has been used for a Small Capital Grants Scheme for social enterprise. 230 social enterprises have benefitted from this scheme, each receiving a grant of between €2,000 and €15,000. In 2020, €45million in Dormant Accounts Funding was...