Results 1,281-1,300 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country.   The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.  I announced the fourth call for Category 1...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. The programme is managed locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and actions are delivered by Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Energy Prices (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I am aware of the challenges facing community groups in relation to utilities and insurance costs.  In November 2021 I launched the €9m Community Activities Fundto support community and voluntary groups impacted by COVID-19. The fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility (Electricity, Heating charges) or insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2022 the Department of Rural and Community have seven measures running in 2022.  These are listed in the table below, along with the maximum approved funding amount as approved within the 2022 Dormant Accounts Action Plan. Funding approved under this plan will mostly be spent in 2022, in line with the €12.57 million allocation available...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations nationwide in both rural and urban areas, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each fulltime equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department’s Community & Voluntary Supports programme provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €5.5m has been provided in 2022 under this programme to support 29 Volunteer Centres, a number of national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and to support the implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy 2021-2025. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (17 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country.  Funding per county generally depends on the level of applications, however, details of all funding allocated will be announced once available and can be viewed on the Departments page on www.gov.ie. An example of supports is the Rural Regeneration...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputy Kerrane for her questions. On the initial question on community employment scheme vacancies and referrals, it is probably worth reiterating the changes that were made just before Christmas because they have made a very significant impact. The CE baseline year was increased from 2007 to 2014. That baseline will be maintained at seven years behind the current year into the...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I will pick up on Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's point about the rural social scheme and retrofitting. There is certainly potential for the RSS to be involved in community-based retrofitting projects. It needs that community-based link. However, the big potential in retrofitting could be in community employment because it has a training element whereas RSS does not. There were to be four ETB...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: In response to the Deputy's questions and commentary, I wish to explain first that there are 2,959 RSS placements at the moment. We have almost 400 vacancies on the scheme. We will look at the six-year cap as part of the review. The RSS is an optional scheme. It is important to say again that we have more places than we can fill at the moment. I am interested in seeing how we can broaden...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: It is an opportune time to make these points. There will be further incentives come June with the income disregards in respect of the other agri-environment schemes. We will see what impact that will have. However, incentivisation has to be part of the mix when we are looking at this in the broader review later this year. I would be glad to sit down with the Deputy and to discuss his...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 37 - Social Protection (Revised) (16 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: No; I know that members have their eyes on the clock.

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Defective Building Materials (15 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 376. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the supports that are available to homeowners effected by pyrite that are not eligible for the remediation scheme due to the damage to their home being assessed as grade 1. [8146/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) currently has 4 vacancies, details of which are set out in the following table. Grade Number FTE Salary Costs* Est Recruitment Costs** Total Costs When vacancy is expected to be filled EO 1 €31,698 €2,323 €34,021 Q2 2022 ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (15 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department was established in 2017 and funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development, which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.  In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €378 million. This funding ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities seeking...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 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 Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the valuable and dedicated service that Community Employment (CE) sponsoring bodies provide in running CE schemes throughout the country. CE supervisors, as employees of those organisations, are an integral part of that good work. CE is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and others with an...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Sustainable Development Goals (10 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Ireland has adopted a ‘whole-of-Government’ approach to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications taking the lead and with each Department having responsibility for implementing individual targets related to their functions. My Department has lead and stakeholder responsibility for several targets, focusing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (10 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a range of supports to communities and groups nationwide in both urban and rural areas, helping citizens to participate in the development of their communities and providing funding to improve facilities. Administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in each area, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides funding to community groups and...