Results 281-300 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity, on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, to update the House on the development contribution waiver scheme. Increasing housing supply is key to addressing the problems at the heart of the housing system. To help address this issue, the Government's...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Schemes (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: There is little doubt, as part of the package of measures introduced by Government under Housing for All, that the development contribution waiver and water connection charge refund schemes have been very effective in achieving their objective of influencing an immediate increase in housing commencement rates, which are now, as I said, at their highest level since records began in 2015....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, thanks Senator Byrne for providing the opportunity to update the House on the number of vacant properties in the ownership or possession of the Department or the HSE. The Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate. The HSE has established property protocols for the disposal of property surplus...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vacant Properties (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Minister again thanks the Senator for the opportunity to update the House on this matter. The HSE is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate and, as I mentioned, as of 29 February a total of 183 vacant properties were at various stages. To ensure the optimal use of State land, the HSE has developed property protocols for the acquisition and disposal of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. Teach An Saol provides a valuable service to a number of clients with a severe acquired brain injury, offering an intensive and inclusive neurological and rehabilitation programme informed by best international practice. Funding for individual capital projects is an...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Healthcare Infrastructure Provision (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Neuro-rehabilitation services play a critical role in supporting recovery and-or maximising the ability of those with neurological conditions, including those with acquired brain injury, and the Government remains committed to the continued implementation of the neuro-rehabilitation strategy. The overarching aim of the strategy is the development of neuro-rehabilitation services to improve...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: On behalf of the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, I thank the Senator for raising this matter and for the opportunity to update the House. As he will be aware, a central objective of the programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated healthcare services, with delivery reoriented towards general practice, primary care and community-based services, enabling a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Primary care centres, as mentioned, provide important primary care infrastructure and can support the delivery of integrated care by facilitating closer co-ordination and co-operation between health professionals from across different disciplines. The Minister will be aware that sometimes there can be delays due to a variety of circumstances with the development of centres in certain...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Maternity Leave (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I too thank Senator Sherlock for raising this very important issue. All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. The Irish...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Maternity Leave (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Sherlock. She is aware of the legislative process and the steps involved in it. The key first step is obviously to bring the proposal to the Cabinet and the Minister has committed to doing that in the next few weeks. The complicating factor behind the Senator's question is that it has been part of a wider review of equality legislation. We want to bring a suite of measures...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator. I am responding to this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Foley. The school to which the Senator refers, St. Francis Xavier Senior National School, currently has two live emergency works scheme applications with the Department. I should explain first that the purpose of the emergency works scheme is to provide funding specifically for unforeseen emergencies,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I will add to what I provided earlier because when I read the initial answer I felt more was needed. In April last year, an initial visual assessment was done by an architect but it was August last year before the senior technical officer visited the site. Therein lies some of the delay. The Department was keen to underline to me that the scheme is repair only, but also that a leak...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed persons and low income farmers/fishers. I would like to acknowledge the important role that Tús and RSS supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to participants in supporting the delivery of key services to local...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware the Community Employment Scheme (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 projects are in diverse areas and include the development, regeneration and enhancement of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last year, I was delighted to announce details of successful applicants of the Community Support Fund (CSF) under the Community Enhancement Programme. Funding of €10 million was allocated to assist local community and voluntary groups across the country with a multitude of costs including energy and utility bills, other operating costs, minor upgrade works and small capital purchases....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (9 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important...

Accommodation for International Protection Applicants: Motion [Private Members] (21 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Thank you, Ceann Comhairle, for your intervention and your comments. Since January, approximately 2,400 beds have been brought into use for those seeking accommodation by the international protection accommodation services. That said, week in, week out, we are opening new accommodation centres in communities across the country. Thankfully, by and large, they go unremarked upon because,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (21 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: In November 2023, I was delighted to announce funding of €1 million to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €3,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. The individual grants will be distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its...