Results 41-60 of 502 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: It is important to mention the PPNs in this regard. In many respects, they are the most comprehensive network of community and voluntary organisations around the country. We fund their support workers as well to build their own capacity. I do not want to leave the PPNs out of this discussion because they are playing a key role. I also do not want to leave out the empowering communities...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: This issue has come up before. I am not passing the buck, but when a local authority approves a housing development, it needs to, and it is now within the guidelines and part of good practice that it should, facilitate space and infrastructure for a community hall and playing facilities and pitches. That is not always easy to do, but that is where it starts and that is where the line of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I will again mention the local authorities. If good proposals are brought to the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and me for the development of projects that will help communities, we will certainly look at them. They will be rigorously analysed, assessed and evaluated. Big projects on substantial areas of land, as mentioned by the Deputy, need the backing of the local authority as well. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: To give the Deputy some figures, the cost of heavy and light cargo contracts for 2022 was €2.2 million. It is important to remember that cargo services are procured on the open market through e-tenders and competition is open, fair and transparent. The contracts are generally of a three-year duration, sometimes a little more, but there is a clause to review on an annual basis. What...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I want to confirm that what the Department will do with the action plan is part of a bigger policy and desire to reinvigorate and keep life in the islands. The action plan has a particular focus on improving housing, water, infrastructure, health services, education services, high-speed broadband, outdoor amenities, sustainable tourism and reviewing transport costs. From speaking to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's community services programme, CSP, supports more than 430 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP contribution per full-time equivalent position is not aligned with the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy. Some CSP projects do pay the living wage and beyond. It is now clearly a social enterprise model. That is the policy. To assist that we have a coaching and mentoring programme that will be put in place under the European Social Fund, ESF, plus social innovation measure to assist organisations to improve their overall performance including financial sustainability. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: During 2023 more than €16.5 million was allocated to Cork city and county through the schemes administered by my Department, such as the rural regeneration and development fund; the LEADER Programme; the town and village renewal scheme; the community centre investment fund; the community services programme; and the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, programme....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Offshore Islands (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Reliable, affordable, year-round cargo services are essential for the sustainability of our island communities. They provide support to indigenous island manufacturers and businesses sectors and contribute to the quality of life for island communities. My Department currently subsidises nine heavy cargo contracts for 17 separate offshore islands. In 2022, over 45,000 tonnes of heavy cargo...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: To be fair, he is in a committee and will close the debate.

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: We are working on it.

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has continued to work as part of the whole-of-government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing conflict who request it. The Department of the Taoiseach co-ordinates the whole-of-government response to...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I appreciate the broad support for the Bill. I will use my time to address some of the issues raised. Reference was made to crowd funding platforms, including GoFundMe. Crowd funding tends to occur where a person or group seeks donations for an individual or a specific cause, such as seeking funds to pay for treatment for someone...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 before the House. The passing of this Bill is an essential step to enhance and strengthen the existing framework for regulating charities in Ireland. The charity sector plays a crucial role in connecting the wider public with opportunities to support and...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the motion. I was glad to cede the time given for the planned charities Bill, which will instead be taken on Thursday. The Irish public has watched with increasing horror the events of the past 100 days unfold. International human rights law is very important, but we do not need to be versed in it to see that what has been visited on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Since early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to more than 99,000 people, between those fleeing Ukraine and international protection applicants. This includes more than 73,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection and more than 25,000 international protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I do not have enough time to list all the things we are doing, but we have a range of funds, including local funds and national funds. For example, the grants under the national integration fund and the asylum migration fund will be announced in the first quarter of next year. There are many other important initiatives. Each local authority has a local economic and community plan. They...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I am happy to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of partnership companies. They are probably one of our key partners on the ground that are facilitating integration, particularly through the social inclusion and community activation programme. We have an additional €10 million allocation for work with Ukrainians and international protection applicants that we secured last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has a geographical focus for grant applications, as I outlined. I am also a Minister of State in the Department of Rural and Community Development, which provides social inclusion and community activation programme allocations and allocations to volunteer centres. Going into 2024, we are specifically looking at the...