Results 501-520 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flood Risk Management (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The flooding events in north Louth and the Cooley peninsula last week as a result of heavy rainfall on saturated ground show the importance of the OPW's planned programme to manage Ireland's flood risk. The completion of 53 flood relief schemes is already protecting 12,000 properties from flooding and avoiding damages of some €2 billion. The 2018 OPW risk management plans were...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for this opportunity to speak to the House on the important topic of HRT provision for women in menopause. The Department of Health and the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, are committed to improving women's health. Since the establishment of the women's health task force in 2019, they have listened to what women want from the health service and have taken a number of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Provision (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick. Considerable progress has been made in menopause care at primary and specialist care level. Six specialist menopause clinics are now open for women who have complex experiences of menopause. A quick reference guide for menopause was launched to support GPs and practice nurses in diagnostics and treatment at primary care level. A national menopause awareness...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, would like to thank the Senator for providing me with the opportunity to provide her with an update on the Drimnagh primary care centre, PCC, at Curlew Road, as well as an update on the HSE-owned site on Davitt Road in Drimnagh. The central objective of the programme for Government is to deliver increased levels of integrated healthcare with service...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I will not read the closing statement because the Senator will know much of what is in it already. I will speak directly with the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly. I will see him in the Chamber today or tomorrow, and I will pass the views of the Senator on to him directly.I would say that, from the text, the Davitt Road site does not seem to have been ruled out. Yet, as the Senator said,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Primary Care Centres (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Indeed.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Gallagher for raising the matter of the minor injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital and I welcome the opportunity to update the House on this important service. The minor injuries unit at Monaghan Hospital plays a vital role in providing valuable services to the local community and helping to alleviate pressures on our emergency departments. There are a total of 12 HSE minor...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Hospital Facilities (7 Nov 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Gallagher for his contribution. Monaghan hospital, serving the people of counties Monaghan and Cavan, has a reputation for the delivery of high quality, innovative and safe care to patients. Over the past ten years, the minor injury unit at Monaghan hospital has treated thousands of patients each year. The National Ambulance Service has established medical assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (25 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports 420 community-based organisations, supporting 437 services to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. Qualifying organisations must be social...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Being honest, I only have limited information, and the key piece of information I have concerning the questions the Deputy is asking is that the budget has been allocated. Additionally, regarding vulnerability and the vulnerability of children, the Government has co-funded family support practitioners for those families living in IPAS accommodation to support the pathway for integrated...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Connolly for the question. Applicants for international protection who are awaiting a decision on their application are offered accommodation by the International Protection Accommodation Service, IPAS, of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Those who accept such accommodation are provided with material reception conditions, including food...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Social Welfare Code (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Connolly. I understand the information she is looking for. I am here in my role with the Department of Social Protection. This Department's main role is administering the payment. I can state from my role in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that funding has been secured for a new child payment. Beyond this there is not a large amount...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I agree with the Deputy that Community Employment (CE) has a proven track record of helping people who are long-term unemployed and lone parents to get back to work and has many benefits for these individuals and our communities. It is an active labour market programme designed to assist eligible people including lone parents by offering work experience and training through short-term...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Budget 2024 (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As part of Budget 2024, Minister Humphreys and I secured a €2.3 Billion Social Protection package. I am pleased to say that this is, for the second year in a row, the largest in the history of the State. This package provides a mixture of exceptional cost of living payments delivered quickly, over the coming weeks, along with rate increases effective from January. Each year, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Poverty Levels (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020–2025is the national strategy for poverty reduction and social inclusion. The ambitious headline target is to reduce the percentage of the population in consistent poverty to 2% or less by 2025. The Roadmap also includes other indicators to support on delivery of this ambition. Official poverty data is published annually by the Central Statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Social Protection operates a number of employment support schemes for long term unemployed persons which also assist communities across the country in the provision of vital services, including Community Employment (CE), Tús and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). The Department is very conscious of the important role that these work programmes play and wish to support...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Government Reform (24 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Since the establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development on the 19th July 2017, no functions have been devolved in full or in part, nor are any functions in the process of being devolved.

Situation in the Middle East and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (18 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I want to open by calling for an immediate ceasefire by all parties to the current outbreak of hostilities in Gaza and Israel; the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages taken by Hamas; and the immediate turning back on of water and electricity to Gaza and the opening of a humanitarian corridor. I also want to condemn the horrific actions of Hamas on 7 October. But the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: We are coming towards the end of a review of the rural social scheme. There has been very intense engagement on it. I have attended a number of workshops and had a lot of discussions with supervisors, participants and the implementing bodies involved as well. It is an amazing scheme. I have seen what it does. It not only provides services and gives an opportunity for people to engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (18 Oct 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. A call for applications for additional staff support...