Results 641-660 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department continues to engage with community and voluntary organisations to support all communities across Ireland to develop in a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable manner. With particular regard to communities in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland, I am very pleased that my Department shares responsibility for the PEACE IV programme, which supports peace and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Voluntary Sector (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I do have an interest in this area. In November I visited Derry and Belfast, and a couple of organisations I met there are worth a mention. Holywell Trust is a community relations and community development organisation committed to positively transforming the lives of local people through addressing interpersonal and societal challenges. We had a very good meeting there about the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: A vibrant circular economy is an essential part of a sustainable, carbon-neutral and resource-efficient economy. The first whole-of-government circular economy strategy was published in December 2021 by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a national policy framework for Ireland’s transition to a circular economy. Alongside this, the Department is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Several of the schemes and programmes I outlined impact clearly and directly on rural economies. I draw attention to the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022. There are a few points worth drawing out. The Act provides for the power to introduce new environmental levies on single-use disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers, together with a levy on waste...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: There are a number of projects specifically under the CSP programme that specifically upcycle and recycle technology. About five or six weeks ago, I was in Clondalkin and visited the recycling project there and specifically launching the Traveller strand in relation to the circular economy. It does amazing work and engages people on Tús schemes and community employment schemes and,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Public Participation Networks (PPNs) were established under the Local Government Reform Act of 2014. They provide representation for the community sector in local policymaking, giving local groups a greater say in local government decisions which affect their communities. There is a PPN in each of the 31 local authority areas, and membership of a PPN is open to volunteer-led and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cost of Living Issues (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: 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 the impact of challenges such as the increased energy costs in recent months. In response to the rising energy costs during Winter 2022, Government introduced a number of supports to assist with those costs. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. My Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current programme began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. The programme provides...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

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 vital in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Support Fund, launched on 18 November, is a Fund designed to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Support is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The fund will deliver small grants to help groups with running costs and rising...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Support Fund, launched on 18 November, is a Fund designed to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Support is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The fund will deliver small grants to help groups with running costs and rising...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is currently drafting a National Policy on Philanthropy with the assistance of a National Advisory Group drawn from the wider philanthropy sector. The aim of the policy, which will be the first national policy on philanthropy in Ireland, is to support and facilitate philanthropy in Ireland and to further develop its potential. Laying the groundwork for this policy began with a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department does not operate a dedicated fund for first responder groups and there are currently no plans to introduce a specific capital fund dedicated to this purpose. However, some of my Department's programmes fund the purchase of capital equipment such as through the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (25 Apr 2023)

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. My Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities...

Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I again welcome the debate. I again thank Deputy Ó Cuív for bringing the Bill forward and for tonight's discussion. It is the start of a much more detailed and interesting discussion where we will get to pull it apart a little more on Committee Stage. As I said, this is a very complicated area cutting across at least three Departments, including the Departments of Finance and...

Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022: Second Stage [Private Members] (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for bringing forward this Private Member's Bill entitled the Safe Deposit Boxes and Related Deposits Bill 2022. I am pleased to inform the House that the Government is not opposing the Bill. It is a detailed Bill which covers a wide-ranging and complex area. In the first instance, it is important to understand what it sets out to achieve. Part 2 seeks to...

Rent Reduction Bill 2023: First Stage (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: No.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy will be aware that a final settlement was reached with unions at the end of 2021 to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations. The settlement resolved the long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: 147. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights and political situation in Peru; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18297/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: 520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the building of the second phase of a school (details supplied) due to commence works in September 2023 and for completion by September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17007/23]