Results 341-360 of 1,343 for speaker:Joe O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP currently provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager. The CSP...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Dormant Accounts Act provides for a scheme to disburse funds for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist (i) the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged, (ii) the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged, or (iii) persons with a disability. As such, a scheme to finance the compulsory purchase of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programmeprovides vital supports to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland. The programme has provided over €43 million in funding to over 17,000 projects since 2018 with small grants for the improvement of facilities. An iteration of the scheme will run again in 2022. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current iteration began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. My officials have begun the process of developing a new iteration of SICAP which will begin in 2024. The programme provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model. Following an independent review of the CSP, a needs-based funding rate allocation model was designed for the programme, based on three weighted criteria, as an alternative to the current flat rate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Pay (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Pobal is a not-for-profit company which works on behalf of Irish Government and European Union in managing programmes that contribute to social inclusion, equality and reconciliation. It comprises of a Board of Directors who are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of Pobal. The Board operates to best practice corporate governance principles ensuring compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I presume the Deputy is referring to Dormant Accounts funding which is provided to this organisation by Pobal, through a measure administered by the Department of Social Protection. As such, the Department of Rural and Community Development is not responsible for this measure or the relevant funding provided to the organisation in question. I asked my officials in the Department of Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Recycling Policy (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: On 28 April 2021, my department, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, announced the introduction of a three-year pilot initiative to develop a scheme for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes as an alternative to the Cycle to Work Scheme model, for those on low incomes and/or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged. A call for applications was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My officials have regular engagement with the Department of Health regarding the National Drugs Strategy. My Department is represented on the Strategic Implementation Group (4) of Reducing Harm and Supporting Recovery. This group comprises sectoral, agency and Departmental officials. The strategy is relevant to my Department's work in the community and voluntary sectors as it is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector in meeting the high cost of energy currently and is committed to supporting the sector in meeting these costs. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Funded by my Department, the pilot Place-Based Leadership Development (P-BLD) Programme is being delivered in Darndale and Drogheda further to recommendations from the Nolan and Geiran reports. The Programme is an investment in local leaders to help them address the challenges experienced in those areas. The P-BLD programme will strengthen the capacity of those already working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: United Nations (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty, held annually on October 17th, is an important reminder that many people, both internationally and in Ireland, continue to live in poverty. In Ireland each year there are a series of events to mark the meaning of the day on or around the 17thof October. The day is promoted in Ireland by the 17 October Committee and All Together in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector in meeting the high cost of energy currently and is committed to supporting the sector in meeting these costs. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Meetings (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: There have been no direct meetings between my Department and the Minister for Communities in Northern Ireland. However, officials from my Department have met with officials from the Department for Communities in relation to the development of the PEACEPLUS Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (26 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: In response to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy, I would like to clarify that the National Funding Platform concept is a separate initiative to anything previously used by Benefacts. My Department is exploring options for the establishment of a national funding platform for the community and voluntary sector. This work is in line with the Department’s Statement of Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (26 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Dormant Accounts Fund provides funding across 10 Government Departments to support measures aimed at addressing economic, social and educational disadvantage, or to support persons with a disability. My Department prepares annual Dormant Account Action Plans which approve funding for measures across Government. The relevant funding is then provided within each Departments Vote, with each...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (26 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I presume the Deputy is referring to the application submitted by the organisation in question under my department's Community Services Programme (CSP), which supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model. Following an independent review of the CSP, a needs-based funding rate allocation model was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (25 Oct 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. Participation on the scheme is part time - 19.5 hours per week. Currently payment rates on CE are related to the underlying value of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. The Fuel Allowance payment is targeted towards those who are more vulnerable to energy poverty, including those reliant on social protection payments for longer periods and who are unlikely to have additional resources of...