Results 1,521-1,540 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

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. CE sponsoring bodies receive state funding to cover the salary costs of supervisors, assistant supervisors, and participant remuneration,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy will be aware that a final settlement was reached with unions at the end of 2021 to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations.  The settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disability Services (6 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 609. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the planned establishment of a community neuro-rehabilitation team for CHO 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60548/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (6 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My colleague, Minister Humphreys, published the General Scheme of the Charities (Amendment) Bill on 29 April 2022.  This General Scheme was subsequently submitted to the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands for Pre-Legislative scrutiny. This Bill is to provide for a number of amendments to the Charities Act 2009. The aim of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (6 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are vulnerable to the impact of increased energy costs. The recent budget allocated €10m to my department to put in place a support scheme for community and voluntary organisations and charities in 2022. The Community and Voluntary...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Carlow town library. I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys. While the provision of library services, including the provision of buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy has made a good case for the works needed in Carlow library. Responsibility for the capital works for libraries does not necessarily fall under one particular Department. As I said earlier, local authorities are the primary body with responsibility for them. The libraries capital programme was fully allocated when Carlow County Council applied. The current programme concludes...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I acknowledge the work done by the more than 840 community employment schemes nationwide. CE provides vital services to local communities in areas such as the delivery of meals to older people, assisting in childcare provision and environmental work and in keeping towns and villages across the country maintained and looking well. There are more than 20,000 places available on CE, with a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I will take the Deputy's suggestions on board in terms of the variety of tasks required of CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. It is a difficult job. We are not hiding behind a shadow-employer status. I am very much upfront in saying that the Department of Social Protection is the main funder of CE schemes and, accordingly, we need to respond to the claims of supervisors. In...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Meals Programme (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. As Chair of the food poverty working group, which includes representatives of government Departments and civil society, I am a strong supporter of the school meals programme and its recent expansion. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food services to some 1,600 schools and organisations benefitting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Meals Programme (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I again thank the Senator for raising the matter. To give a little more information on the evaluation commissioned earlier this year, it involved close consultation with all the stakeholders and workshops and interviews have been conducted with teachers, principles, children as well as suppliers. Key issues to be explored as part of the evaluation include: whether the schools meals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on plans for a permanent location for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62262/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I value the role CE supervisors and assistant supervisors play on over 800 CE schemes in local communities across the country. They support CE participants to get work experience and develop future work opportunities for those who are long term unemployed, while providing essential services to local communities. As the Deputy is aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy will be aware that a final settlement was reached with unions at the end of 2021 to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations. The settlement resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: International Protection (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 646. To ask the Minister for Health the provision that his Department has made to help address the mental health needs of persons who have arrived in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive to date in 2022. [62267/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 647. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the availability of lactation consultants and supports nationwide; if he will outline plans for expansion of lactation supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62268/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Reviews (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (‘the Charities Regulator’) is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. While established on 16 October 2014, pursuant to the Charities Act 2009, the Charities Regulator was not fully operational until 2016. Draft proposals for amendments to the Charities Act 2009 were developed by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Policies (14 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 41. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on the planned introduction of a policy framework for unmanned aircraft systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62625/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (14 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) projects are typically sponsored by groups wishing to benefit the local community, namely voluntary and community organisations and, to a lesser extent, public bodies involved in not-for-profit activities. Schools are not permitted to sponsor CE schemes and CE participants cannot be employed by or work in schools as these services are funded directly by the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (14 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I value the role CE supervisors and assistant supervisors play on over 800 CE schemes in local communities across the country. They support CE participants to get work experience and develop future work opportunities for those who are long term unemployed, while providing essential services to local communities. As the Deputy is aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are not...