Results 61-80 of 2,126 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Referral to Select Committee (25 Apr 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).

Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Second Stage (25 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this important Bill, which will improve and update our civil registration legislation and, in particular, allow parents and bereaved families the opportunity to register a birth, death or stillborn online, update the criteria for stillbirths and provide timely notification of deaths to the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Food Poverty (25 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Minister Humphreys was very pleased to recently announce the extension of the Hot School Meals programme meaning that an additional 900 schools and 150,000 children are now eligible for hot meals. This means that there are now over 2,000 Primary Schools and 316,000 children able to benefit from Hot School Meals, having started in 2019 with a small pilot of 30 schools. The Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (25 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme which was designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. Recruitment onto the scheme ceased from November 2004, while existing participants have their annual contracts renewed until they reach 66 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 Apr 2024)

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 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. An application window for funding additional staff...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Community and Voluntary Social Pillar (‘the C&V Pillar’) is a seventeen-member group representing community and voluntary organisations which contribute to the social dialogue process. Since 2018, the Department of Rural and Community Development has provided funding to the members of the C&V Pillar to engage in dialogue and policy formation. The...

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Give Travellers the Floor: Discussion (18 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I had been hoping the Cathaoirleach was not going to call me because I have not really gathered my thoughts, but I just wanted to come in. I am only getting the tail end of the input. I apologise that I could not be here earlier. I want to say "Well done" to the Cathaoirleach, Senator Flynn, for organising this. It is good to see. I will listen back to many of the inputs today as well....

Committee on Key Issues affecting the Traveller Community: Give Travellers the Floor: Discussion (18 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I might catch a little of that as well. I might be able to say a little bit more then. It is good to see everyone here. I recognise a couple of faces and I will hang around for a bit in case anybody wants to chat.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I launched the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP), with capital funding of €6 million to assist community groups across the country. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most. There was a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme which was designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. Recruitment onto the scheme ceased from November 2004, while existing participants have their annual contracts renewed until they reach 66 years of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (16 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I am immensely proud that my Department leads on supporting volunteering and implementing the National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025. The Strategy was approved by Government and launched in December 2020. It is a whole of government framework to support the voluntary sector. Its purpose is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution volunteers make to Irish society....

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...