Results 2,101-2,120 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Perhaps it is something we can thrash out more next week when we will return with a social protection focus. Is the Deputy advocating an expansion of the community employment scheme in terms of places?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I take the point. I will come back to the issue next week.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will come back to the Chair on that point. Regarding Deputy Donnelly's point on funding for community centres, I reiterate that in January we provided Fingal County Council with €40,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund to allow remedial work on Hartstown Community Centre and Huntstown Community Centre. Huntstown Community Centre also received €45,000 under the Covid-19...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will address that issue briefly. To my knowledge, there are plans for higher technology devices to come on stream. I need to confirm that but I recall that there were plans in that regard. The lot option for the forthcoming scheme in 2021 has been confirmed, along with the technical specifications for the telecoms equipment to be included. Work is ongoing at interdepartmental level to...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will answer Deputy Ó Cuív's question first. There are legislative criteria relating to the focus on the Dormant Accounts Fund in respect of disadvantaged groups. I cannot recall the specific wording, but it is relatively focused. All the other Departments that get funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund have relationships with community and voluntary groups, and they are...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: That is a lot of the logic of the stability fund and why we were looking for that extra €10 million we got yesterday. That is one of the core reasons for the stability fund. It is a huge problem for the sector. There are also other funds out there the charity sector can tap into. I have spoken to the Minister, Deputy Harris, about this with regard to his remit. We are willing to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 7. To ask the Taoiseach when the citizens' assembly on drug use will be convened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29282/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rural Social Scheme (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The person concerned completed his overall lifetime limit of 6 years on the Community Employment (CE) Programme (rather than the Rural Social Scheme) on 21st August 2020. During his time on CE he completed 7 modules of training, and achieved a QQI Major award in Hard Landscape Construction. The purpose of the training and support that the person concerned received while on CE was to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) is a positive initiative that enables the long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst up-skilling themselves for employment opportunities. The scheme can play an important role in breaking the cycle of long-term unemployment for some people and improve their chances of employment. In order to qualify for CE, a number of conditions,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (8 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if data exists or an assessment has been conducted on the need for an ASD unit in a school (details supplied). [29313/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors who are employed by CE schemes. CE sponsoring authorities are the legal...

Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment: Motion [Private Members] (7 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputies for some very useful inputs on these important relevant supports. As outlined by the Minister, I assure this House and the other House that the Government is fully committed to supporting people at this difficult time. At the onset of the pandemic, the previous Government was quick to take action and introduce the range of measures initially intended for a 12-week period...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 327. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the details of fines issued to the State under Annex V of the European Habitats Directive regarding the conservation of the Irish hare, lepus timidus hibernicus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28130/20]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (1 Oct 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 99. To ask the Minister for Finance if the Revenue Commissioners will be instructed to conduct an audit and review of the operation of the temporary wage subsidy and employment wage subsidy schemes in a company (details supplied) in view of reports from employees that they have been in receipt of pay below the minimum mandated by the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Child Poverty: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: No. I will take it all, if I can.

Child Poverty: Motion [Private Members] (30 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Whitmore for bringing forward this motion and I thank the other Deputies for their thoughtful and well-considered contributions to this debate. Perhaps nothing encapsulates the inequality and unfairness of our society more than issue of child poverty. Up the road in the Rotunda, some children will be born today and during this week into situations where they will virtually...