Results 881-900 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: In response to the previous question, I cannot give the Deputy an estimate on that. We run the programme every year, at the very least. I fully agree that women's sheds should have parity of esteem. I visited an excellent women's shed in Wexford recently. The sheds make a great contribution in giving people an opportunity to come together, which is particularly important in rural...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Canney for the invitation and I take the other Deputies' points as well. We support the national men's sheds organisation through the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, and applications for that will be opening either late this year or early next year. That is just a point of information that may be useful. On the question of sustainability, and I recall...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. My Department has a number of schemes that local groups can avail of to support the establishment of community centres. Funding may be available through the LEADER transitional programme, which is delivered through local action groups, LAGs, in each of the 28 LEADER subregional areas around the country. Interested applicants should, in the first...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I can certainly identify with the issues outlined by the Deputy. The CEP is probably one of the most relevant in terms of the need he outlined in terms of his constituency and recent grants provided. Sandyford Community Centre recently was given a €4,500 grant for an energy efficiency upgrade. Kilcross Resource Centre received up to €5,000 for a replacement fire alarm...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: We do not have that detail yet but it will be forthcoming in due course. I acknowledge Deputy Richmond's points as well. I can certainly identify because we have the same issue in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. Regarding housing estates that are growing and coming on stream, there is a responsibility on local authorities in granting planning permissions to have community centres...

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

Joe O'Brien: My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". A key part of achieving this mission is ensuring that those most in need are able to access services and supports and that we deliver outcomes that positively impact the quality of life of those living and working in our communities....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Under the National Development Plan, the Department of Rural and Community Development will see an increase in its overall funding. Some of this increase will be used to establish a new funding scheme for community centres. This is consistent with the Programme for Government commitment to establishing a small capital grants scheme for the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community...

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

Joe O'Brien: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. I understand that in the past the CLÁR Programme was used to top-up other funding programmes, including the Sports Capital Programme. However, since it was relaunched in 2016, the programme provides funding, in its own right,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: My Department delivers a range of supports to community groups including Men's Sheds, some of which are administered by Pobal. The eligibility criteria differ depending on the specific programme and work being completed. For example, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP)provides small capital grants to community groups, including Men's Sheds. In the past, a ring-fenced fund was provided...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The 2022 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan is currently in preparation. Departments are currently concluding the estimates process and the Action Plan will be finalised following the Budget. It is envisaged that the 2022 Action Plan will be published in November 2021. The 2021 Dormant Account Action Plan approved funding of up to €51 million across 10 departments supporting 46...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting rural and urban communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration. My Department is providing SICAPfunding in excess of €220 million over six years (2018-2023). This year over €39 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 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. In May this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a range of employment support schemes including Community Employment (CE). These supports are specifically targeted at those people who have been unemployed for 12 months or more. The aim of CE is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing valuable work experience opportunities. CE also provides training supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Development Companies (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) works closely with the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), the representative body for Ireland’s Local Development Companies (LDCs). The LDCs are a key delivery partner for government across a range of schemes and programmes. In the case of DRCD, they deliver SICAP and are implementing partners for the LEADER programme. To...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting rural and urban communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration. My Department is providing SICAPfunding in excess of €220 million over six years (2018-2023). This year over €39 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a structure that brings together volunteer-led groups in each local authority area from the Community and Voluntary, Environment, and Social Inclusion sectors. The PPNs are the main link between these groups and their local authorities, and they enable the groups to make their voices heard within formal local decision-making structures. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Local Development Companies (LDCs) across Ireland deliver over €300 million of state-funded programmes each year, acting as community partners for government agencies and Departments, while supporting more than 15,000 communities and community groups and 173,000 individuals. One of these programmes is my Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)...

Access of Competent Authorities to Centralised Bank Account Registries: Motion (19 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies who have contributed to this discussion and I welcome the broad support for the proposal. As my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, made clear, this proposes directive amends a directive we have already opted into, namely, EU Directive 2019/1153. The changes included in this directive are minor and practical and will enable us to participate more...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Measures (19 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I join with Deputy Cairns and other Deputies in reflecting on the enormous losses of parents as part of this month's marking of pregnancy and infant loss. I do not think anyone in this House will disagree when I say that a stillbirth must be one of the most traumatic events that parents can experience. My own experience of engaging with parents is that the loss can be overwhelming,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Legislative Measures (19 Oct 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the short debate on this important matter, which has afforded the House the opportunity to mark the month in which Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day occurs. We know that 300 to 350 families are affected by stillbirths annually. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is also conscious of those parents who register stillbirths on the understanding that the records will not be open...