Results 801-820 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 378. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on plans for a permanent location for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62262/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I value the role CE supervisors and assistant supervisors play on over 800 CE schemes in local communities across the country. They support CE participants to get work experience and develop future work opportunities for those who are long term unemployed, while providing essential services to local communities. As the Deputy is aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (13 Dec 2022)

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 resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: International Protection (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 646. To ask the Minister for Health the provision that his Department has made to help address the mental health needs of persons who have arrived in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive to date in 2022. [62267/22]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Healthcare Policy (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 647. To ask the Minister for Health if he will outline the availability of lactation consultants and supports nationwide; if he will outline plans for expansion of lactation supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62268/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Reviews (13 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (‘the Charities Regulator’) is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities. While established on 16 October 2014, pursuant to the Charities Act 2009, the Charities Regulator was not fully operational until 2016. Draft proposals for amendments to the Charities Act 2009 were developed by...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I acknowledge the work done by the more than 840 community employment schemes nationwide. CE provides vital services to local communities in areas such as the delivery of meals to older people, assisting in childcare provision and environmental work and in keeping towns and villages across the country maintained and looking well. There are more than 20,000 places available on CE, with a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Community Employment Schemes (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I will take the Deputy's suggestions on board in terms of the variety of tasks required of CE supervisors and assistant supervisors. It is a difficult job. We are not hiding behind a shadow-employer status. I am very much upfront in saying that the Department of Social Protection is the main funder of CE schemes and, accordingly, we need to respond to the claims of supervisors. In...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Carlow town library. I am taking this question on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys. While the provision of library services, including the provision of buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001, the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Library Projects (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy has made a good case for the works needed in Carlow library. Responsibility for the capital works for libraries does not necessarily fall under one particular Department. As I said earlier, local authorities are the primary body with responsibility for them. The libraries capital programme was fully allocated when Carlow County Council applied. The current programme concludes...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I appreciate the Deputy pressing that sense of urgency. There are approximately 1,200 CE supervisors and assistant supervisors around the country. They provide an enormous service to their communities. They open pathways to work for people, provide a social inclusion service locally for people who would not otherwise be looked after and run key local services. We need to look after them....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (8 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of CE supervisor pay. In my answer I will also include assistant supervisors and supervisors of rural social scheme, RSS, and Tús schemes, who we also need to look at. My Department has been in negotiations with unions this year. Unions have gone to the Workplace Relations Commission, WRC, to open a conciliation process. The Department of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. I acknowledge the work of CE supervisors. We have about 1,200 supervisors and assistant supervisors across the country. They are one of the most embedded and connected groups of community workers, broadly speaking, we have across the country. My Department has been engaging with the unions during the year. The supervisor union's representatives have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to give some clarity on the current position relating to post-primary school provision in Clonakilty, County Cork. For school planning purposes, the Department of Education divides the country into 314 school planning areas and utilises a geographical information system to anticipate school place demand....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I accept the Senator's point that many people do not have clarity as to their standing at this time. It is very hard to give clarity until the 15 December deadline has passed. I expect the schools have some of the information he has requested. I will feed back to the Minister that we need to get that information from the schools and give clarity to people as soon as possible. I am hopeful...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education and Training Provision (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senators for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, who are unable to be here. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to engaging with all Departments and industry representative bodies to support them in their workforce planning needs....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education and Training Provision (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I genuinely believe the Senators have hit on a crucial issue. The Minister, Deputy Harris, is committed and has made clear that planning for current and future public sector skills needs is a priority for his Department. Officials will continue to engage across Departments to progress the important area of workforce planning. I agree with the Senators' point about the HEA. We could all do...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (7 Dec 2022)

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 resolves this long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (7 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I value the role CE supervisors and assistant supervisors play on over 800 CE schemes in local communities across the country. They support CE participants to get work experience and develop future work opportunities for those who are long term unemployed, while providing essential services to local communities. As the Deputy is aware, CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (6 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 151. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dublin Airport Authority have been issued with a warning letter by the planning department of Fingal County Council in relation to many issues being caused to residents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60607/22]