Results 701-720 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Investigations (15 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: In February last, my officials became aware of an issue in Roscommon PPN that my Department considered warranted an independent investigation to consider whether due process and natural justice was applied. All parties to the matter were informed of the intention of the Department to appoint an independent investigator. An experienced independent investigator has now been selected...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authorities (16 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a structure that brings together volunteer-led groups in each local authority area to represent the Community and Voluntary, Environment, and Social Inclusion sectors on Local Authority policymaking structures. PPNs were established following the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. My Department has engaged Mazars consultants to carry...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (16 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) was first launched by my Department in 2018. The Programme provides funding to community groups and organisations across Ireland, with a focus on areas of disadvantage. Funding is provided to each Local Authority area, and the programme is administered by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) on the basis of local need. Between...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (17 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. The programme is delivered through independent CE sponsoring authorities. The contract agreement between the Department and the CE sponsoring...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Support Services (21 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator McGreehan for raising this issue. My Department has responsibility for providing labour market services for people with a disability, assisting them with finding paid employment and preparing them for employment through training or employment programmes. Under the reasonable accommodation fund, my Department helps employers and employees with a disability to take appropriate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Employment Support Services (21 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Again, I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I will not ask what Department was involved but the situation she described, frankly, was unacceptable. I reiterate what I said earlier. The Employment Equality Acts oblige employers to take reasonable steps to accommodate the needs of both employees and job applicants with disabilities, except where to do so would impose a disproportionate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 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 supported CE schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 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 supported CE schemes since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020.  CE...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports more than 420 community organisations to provide local employment opportunities and social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding of €19,033 is provided for each Full Time Equivalent (FTE) position and €32,000 for each manager position, where...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) was first launched by my Department in 2018.  It provides small grants to community organisations with a focus on those organisations in disadvantaged areas.  The funding is provided to each Local Authority area and is distributed by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in that area on the basis of local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022 aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.  SICAP is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from local authorities; and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: In line with the provisions of the Dormant Accounts Fund legislation an account is considered dormant if there has been no customer initiated transactions for a period of 15 years. The National Treasury Management Agency is responsible for management of the fund, and it sets aside a “reserve fund” for likely future reclaims by account holders or their heirs. The closing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The closing balance in the Dormant Accounts Fund at the end of 2020 was €244 million. The annual transfer of funds from newly dormant accounts takes place in April of each year. Following the transfer this year, the total in the fund at the end of May 2021 was €291 million. Of the €291 million within the fund at end May 2021, €182 million of this is held in the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: A review to identify potential additional dormant assets was undertaken by Deloitte in 2019. This review was published by my Department in early 2020, and is available here:  The review identified four possible additional dormant assets that warranted further consideration in terms of potentially utilising them in the future. Deloitte identified significant complexities with regard to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (22 Jun 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2022 aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.  SICAP is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from local authorities; and...