Results 1,061-1,080 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: No; I know that members have their eyes on the clock.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) currently has 4 vacancies, details of which are set out in the following table. Grade Number FTE Salary Costs* Est Recruitment Costs** Total Costs When vacancy is expected to be filled EO 1 €31,698 €2,323 €34,021 Q2 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (15 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department was established in 2017 and funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development, which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.  In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €378 million. This funding ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: A new capital fund for the upgrade of community centres was referenced in the National Development Plan and an indicative budget of €5m has been secured for this under Budget 2022.  It is envisaged that the capital fund will support the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community buildings in urban and rural areas. The fund could provide for: - Energy retrofitting -...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (17 Feb 2022)

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 towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country.   The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.  I announced the fourth call for Category 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. The programme is managed locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and actions are delivered by Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Energy Prices (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I am aware of the challenges facing community groups in relation to utilities and insurance costs.  In November 2021 I launched the €9m Community Activities Fundto support community and voluntary groups impacted by COVID-19. The fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility (Electricity, Heating charges) or insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2022 the Department of Rural and Community have seven measures running in 2022.  These are listed in the table below, along with the maximum approved funding amount as approved within the 2022 Dormant Accounts Action Plan. Funding approved under this plan will mostly be spent in 2022, in line with the €12.57 million allocation available...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations nationwide in both rural and urban areas, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each fulltime equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department’s Community & Voluntary Supports programme provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €5.5m has been provided in 2022 under this programme to support 29 Volunteer Centres, a number of national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and to support the implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country.  Funding per county generally depends on the level of applications, however, details of all funding allocated will be announced once available and can be viewed on the Departments page on www.gov.ie. An example of supports is the Rural Regeneration...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE) and the Job Initiative (JI) Scheme. These schemes are delivered by independent bodies funded by the Department. CE and JI are delivered by sponsoring authorities and managing agents. While the Department funds participant and supervisor wages, the Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) is a labour market activation programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people with an opportunity to engage in work experience and training opportunities within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. In general CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for 1 year. As the Deputy may be aware, CE participants...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Domestic Violence (22 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality. It does this through Programme Implementers, agencies and companies, who work with the most disadvantaged and the hardest to reach in communities. Carlow County Development Partnership...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (22 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: A new capital fund for the upgrade of community centres was referenced in the National Development Plan. Indicative funding of €5m has been secured for this under Budget 2022. It is envisaged that the capital fund will support the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community buildings in urban and rural areas. The fund will assist with projects such as: - Energy retrofitting -...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (23 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter in regard to enabling access to school facilities for use by local community organisations and youth groups outside of school hours. Schools are very much valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to sports and social activity but also to local heritage, and in rural areas they help sustain populations. Indeed rural schools...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (23 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the schools that are opening their doors and facilitating a variety of community groups. It happens quite a bit and many of us perhaps do not realise it happens because a lot of the activities are school related, for example homework clubs, breakfast clubs, summer camps and sporting and other activities. We almost assume that they are part of the school process, but they are very...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (24 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 206. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delays that businesses in Dublin Airport are experiencing with the new enhanced background checking system and the impact that this is having on their ability to successfully recruit new staff; and his plans to address this issue. [10619/22]

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agricultural Shows (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising the very important matter of funding for agricultural shows. Agricultural shows are a great celebration of all that is good about rural Ireland. They provide a welcome boost for local economies and attract visitors to support our rural communities. Aside from the contribution they make to the rural economy, agricultural shows also provide a great outlet for...