Results 1,241-1,260 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Traveller Community (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I can confirm that I received a copy of the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Key Issues Affecting the Traveller Community on 14 December 2021. My Department has recently provided an update to the Joint Committee on the recommendations outlined in the report as relevant to my Department. I have provided the updates requested on the relevant recommendations as follows: Recommendation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Ukraine War (22 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Government is working to ensure that local capacity, resources and knowledge are brought to bear on the overall humanitarian response to people fleeing Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland and will work closely with Local Authorities to ensure a well-co-ordinated and seamless approach. I recognise that the capacity, willingness and expertise exists at local level to co-ordinate...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (9 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Job Initiative (JI) is an employment support scheme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities. The Department of Social Protection provides financial support in the form of allowances and funding to assist with the Job Initiative,  for example participant wages, team...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP), currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services, through a social enterprise model.  The CSP contribution is not aligned to the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts, rather it is a fixed annual contribution towards the overall...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (8 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I refer the Deputy to my responses on the 8 February 2022 (q. 848) and 17 February 2022 (q. 53) respectively. The position outlined regarding the Seniors Alert Scheme remains unchanged. My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agricultural Shows (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising the very important matter of funding for agricultural shows. Agricultural shows are a great celebration of all that is good about rural Ireland. They provide a welcome boost for local economies and attract visitors to support our rural communities. Aside from the contribution they make to the rural economy, agricultural shows also provide a great outlet for...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Agricultural Shows (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for the invitation. I will be speaking directly with the Minister tonight on the Senator's question in terms of the review and the issues raised today, as well as the value the shows bring, particularly in their community value and their value in maintaining a key piece of our national identity. Numerous events are undertaken every summer. They include the judging of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senators Aisling Dolan and Buttimer for raising this important matter. Schools are valued in their communities and not just from an education perspective. They sustain rural populations and are often viewed as an indicator of how an area is faring. They also provide a vital link for sports and social activity.Schools play a wide role in their communities and many schools make their...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Facilities (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senators for their kind comments. It is important to thank schools that are opening up their facilities and to acknowledge they are doing this. There is bit of work and an element of risk involved in doing that and we should thank them for it. I reiterate my request for other schools to seriously consider doing this. As I said, I have written to the Minister for Education and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Creed for raising this matter and for highlighting the work that is done by all these schemes. The schemes are different.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: That is not to put a different value on anything. They are all extremely valuable. Tús was originally a one-year programme.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The rural social scheme is an income support measure. It does not have a training element, to make a slight distinction. It may look as if they are identical from the outside, but they are not. They are all of equal and high value. The Deputy knows I place a huge emphasis on the importance of such schemes. I have visited many community employment, Tús and rural social schemes over...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Social Welfare Schemes (2 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I want to acknowledge the excellent work that is done on the full range of schemes, including the community employment, Tús and rural social schemes, supported by my Department, and the contribution that these schemes and their workers make to communities across the country. Work schemes, such as Tús and the community...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Food Waste (1 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 188. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the possibility of a good Samaritan law, requiring retailers to donate food that would otherwise be disposed of to charity will be considered as part of the development of a draft national food waste prevention roadmap. [11702/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (1 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors have been seeking for several years, through their union representatives, the allocation of Exchequer funding to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme. At the outset, I wish to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that CE...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (1 Mar 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the purchase by a registered community based-organisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (24 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 206. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the delays that businesses in Dublin Airport are experiencing with the new enhanced background checking system and the impact that this is having on their ability to successfully recruit new staff; and his plans to address this issue. [10619/22]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (23 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the schools that are opening their doors and facilitating a variety of community groups. It happens quite a bit and many of us perhaps do not realise it happens because a lot of the activities are school related, for example homework clubs, breakfast clubs, summer camps and sporting and other activities. We almost assume that they are part of the school process, but they are very...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Facilities (23 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter in regard to enabling access to school facilities for use by local community organisations and youth groups outside of school hours. Schools are very much valued in their communities in that they provide a vital link to sports and social activity but also to local heritage, and in rural areas they help sustain populations. Indeed rural schools...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (22 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE) and the Job Initiative (JI) Scheme. These schemes are delivered by independent bodies funded by the Department. CE and JI are delivered by sponsoring authorities and managing agents. While the Department funds participant and supervisor wages, the Department is...