Results 761-780 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 492. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protection applicants who presented as unaccompanied minors that have been age-disputed and subjected to an assessment by Tusla since the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015; the number deemed as adults and placed into direct provision; and the number deemed minors and placed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many Irish prospective students at UK universities have not yet received clarity on their eligibility to access UK home fees and tuition fee loans from UK universities for the forthcoming academic year; if he has engaged with his counterpart in the UK Government to advocate that this is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulator, under the aegis of my Department, is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with a mandate to promote good governance practice. While my Department has responsibility for governance oversight of the Charities Regulator, the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (14 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 387. To ask the Minister for Health when the result of the full health technology assessment which was due to be concluded in April 2021 will be available in relation to the gene therapy treatment zolgensma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (14 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the purchase by a registered community based-organisation of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The emergence of men's sheds in recent years has been a positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. My Department is providing a range of supports which both men's and women's sheds can avail of, depending on the works...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: While that was a one-off funding round, men's sheds are a testament to the vibrancy of the community and voluntary sector in continually identifying new areas of need. The men's shed movement has been one of the stand-out exceptional examples over the past few years. However, other Departments and agencies are funding men's sheds, which is a good thing and ensures their future growth. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I reiterate and double down on the Deputy's recognition of the value of the men's sheds programme. It is an extraordinary group. In the stability fund last year, we provided the national organisation with a €70,000 grant. As community groups go, it is very vibrant. Looking at how the number of member groups has grown in the past ten years, they went from 40 in 2011 and increased to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Building capacity and training opportunities for the community and voluntary sector is key to realising the intent of sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities, the Government's five-year strategy to support the sector. The strategy details clear commitments in respect of training. Action 2.1 commits to support community groups and organisations to identify and meet their training...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I draw attention to some training programmes that are ongoing. The Charities Regulator launched its annual report today. The regulator provides a suite of free training options and free guidance that all charities can access. Community Work Ireland funding was provided last year to the All Ireland Endorsement Body for Community Work Education and Training to raise the standards of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I am open to hearing where there are gaps. Our initial plans this year are based on agreement with the cross-sectoral group that oversees the national strategy. Various community and voluntary sectors are represented on that group. It has prioritised the three areas that I have mentioned. We are, therefore, taking our lead from it. As the Deputy knows, the community and voluntary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. Given the role of my Department in supporting the economic and social development of rural Ireland, as well as community development throughout Ireland, all of our existing funding schemes support the response to, and recovery from, the pandemic in some way. However, several specific targeted measures are aimed at directly supporting the Covid response...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his concern for the sector at large. The stability fund last year offered us a unique opportunity to do a kind of health check or get a good snapshot of where the community and voluntary sector was and it allowed us to support the sector. The new stability fund offers additional support in that regard. Without going into detail, I am hopeful and satisfied that, by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: There is no single overarching area or geographical area that springs to mind in that regard but we are monitoring the situation very closely. The community enhancement programme was launched recently and we will be getting feedback from the local authorities that manage those schemes in terms of demand and the types of projects that were seeking supports. We keep an ear close to the ground...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 131 together. I thank the Deputy for his question. The community enhancement programme, CEP, 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, LCDCs, on the basis of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: There is a benefit to introducing a dedicated community centre capital programme to provide large-scale capital grants for significant refurbishment, retrofitting, modernisation and the construction of community centres. The need for more significant capital investment to support community infrastructure has become more evident during the pandemic. A proposal for an increase in the level...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: There is strong interest in developing a programme like this. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is advocating it strongly. We hope there will be something in the revised national development plan to facilitate the need. There are gaps across the country. In deprived and lightly populated areas, there is a clear issue. Many community centre projects start and grow organically so we should...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: A range of my Department’s programmes provide funding to community group projects across the entire country. Each programme has a different focus and rationale which informs the allocation of funding. I will mention just a few examples here. TheCommunity Enhancement Programmeprovides grants to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas and is administered by Local Community...