Results 2,141-2,160 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Following a successful appeal, this gentleman has been awarded disability allowance (DA) with effect from 8 January 2020 when he sent in his application. The first payment was made by his chosen payment method 10 June 2020. The person concerned was informed of this decision on 4 June 2020. Arrears of payment due were calculated and issued to this gentleman on 10 June 2020. I trust this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Rent Data (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting some 19,600 active recipients. The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 235. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the inequalities that exist between professional psychology doctoral training courses; and if there are plans to address this by funding both the educational and counselling psychology doctoral courses in line with clinical psychology doctorates. [26040/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 236. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the inequalities that exist between professional psychology doctoral training courses regarding mental health and older persons; and if there are plans to address this by funding both the educational and counselling psychology doctoral courses in line with clinical psychology doctorates. [26041/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 237. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the establishment of a national psychology placement office; when this is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Government's Recovery and Resilience Plan, published on 15 September 2020, acknowledges the importance of communities working together at this challenging time. Community organisations are often the focal point for vital activities that can foster community resilience. The Government is also keenly aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: My Departments Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) (€19,033 per annum) and a manager (€32,000 per annum), where warranted. The organisation in question has been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: In 2019, the Department of Defence applied for, and secured, funding (€1million) to upgrade Civil Defence’s fleet under the Dormant Accounts Fund. This application occurred in the context of adverse weather events and the role of the Civil Defence in assisting vulnerable people and communities, in particular elderly people living in more isolated settings. The application was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adult Education Provision (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: To reiterate, my Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. We deliver this funding and supports to local communities and groups through implementing policies designed to enhance economic and social opportunities for individuals which improve the quality of life in all our communities....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adult Education Provision (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: SICAP is very much in that space. It provides: lifelong learning and training; CV and interview preparation; personal development courses; self-employment training; business planning and budgeting supports; and helps people get onto a work placement programme such as community employment or the Tús programme. Public libraries are also under our remit. They provide access to extensive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Adult Education Provision (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I would be happy to liaise with the Deputy on that issue. They are excellent projects which bring people out of their comfort zones who would never have thought of doing something in their communities. They are brilliant. I will give a little more information on libraries because while they are used well, more people could use them. In response to the crisis, systems were put in place...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Signage (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: It is somewhat out of my remit but I understand that groups, such as residents associations which wish to erect signage in their local areas, are generally referred to the roads section of their local authority, so the Deputy might get more joy out of them. That section will ensure such signage is in keeping with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport traffic signals manual. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Signage (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I take the Deputy’s point, which is a good one. I will pass this back to the other Department but only because that is where it is best put. There is a point to be made in regard to eyesores, over-signage, unnecessary signage and old signage that does not really tell us anything anymore. There is also the issue that if people are driving through rural Ireland, they will pass so many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Signage (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I will pass that on to the other Department.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Isolation (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for his question. I assure him that I am from rural Ireland and I understand the situation. I am also familiar with the Deputy's constituency as I have some relatives living there. We are doing more than I can tell the Deputy about in the time available to me. Many of the Department's policies and funding programmes aim to address isolation in rural and urban...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Isolation (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge everything he is saying. I wish to provide additional information on the senior alert scheme that could be useful. A new befriending phone call initiative will support participants in the senior alert scheme, which is operated in conjunction with Pobal and Alone. The Department has utilised the senior alert scheme, which provides monitored alarms for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Isolation (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Rural crime is outside of my remit but in terms of helping people to feel connected and recognised, the Community Call initiative run by the Department is worth mentioning. This initiative sought to link local and national Government with the community and voluntary sectors. Its purpose was to co-ordinate community activity, direct community assistance and organise and deploy volunteers....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: To clarify, there was an appeal process as well, which considered real barriers where people simply could not access the information. Some people were not around and available to make the applications. To clarify some of the details, grant levels ranging from €200,000 were approved. They were based on a variety of factors, including the level of loss experienced by the organisation,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: If those organisations want to contact the Department and my office, we can follow up. To clarify the criteria for eligibility, as the Deputy mentioned, organisations need to receive less than 80% State funding, as the Government had committed to maintaining existing contracts and grants throughout the crisis and offered other additional supports. Organisations had to project a reduction of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (17 Sep 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The community and voluntary sector Covid-19 stability fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the sector and social enterprises. The fund was intended to provide a targeted, once-off, cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to those most in need in our society and in danger of imminent...