Results 1,301-1,320 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Health: Pharmacy Services (8 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 633. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to difficulties pharmacies in north County Dublin have had in accessing supplies of epilim chronospheres medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5942/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (8 Feb 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 towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: We will be reviewing the rural social scheme, RSS, this year and the six-year rule will be in the mix. Regarding Tús, my understanding is that the majority of places have been filled and it has been going well. Compared with community employment, CE, schemes, the rate at which places are being filled has been quicker. On Monday, I met RSS participants in Meath - perhaps it was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The RSS is an income support scheme providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishers who are in receipt of specified social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The scheme offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable work experience and provides valuable services to local rural communities. To qualify for RSS, a person must...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: To briefly touch on Tús, there was quite a bit of leeway given during Covid in terms of referrals and the consequences of not filling places. That is easing now. I refer to the operational forum that we are running in respect of CE and Tús where issues can be fed in. It is something that we have heard previously. I want to give the RSS a little time. It is an extremely...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme providing eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. I am aware of the challenges caused by the Covid-19 public health restrictions and the resultant impact on many CE participants and schemes. As...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 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: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is a support scheme, providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishermen and women who are in receipt of specified social welfare payments, and who are underemployed in their primary occupation. The scheme offers participants the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in their communities. To qualify for RSS, a person must be...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 52, 55 and 66 together. As the Deputies are aware, Community Employment (CE) Scheme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a temporary, fixed term basis. In light of the ongoing COVID related...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 - 2025 is a whole of Government strategy that aims to reduce consistent poverty and improve social inclusion in Ireland. The Roadmap contains seven high level goals with 22 specific targets, which will be delivered by 66 unique commitments. I am pleased that the first Progress Report of the Roadmap was published on 20 January 2022 and sets out progress...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Poverty (3 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The cost of living, having remained relatively flat for a number of years, has seen an increase in recent months. The Government's Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025 is the national policy for poverty reduction and improved social inclusion. Its key aim is to reduce the level of consistent poverty to 2% or less with an associated goal to reduce child poverty in Ireland and to ensure...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I will address Deputy Paul Donnelly's question on the community services programme, CSP. The core allocation is the same as last year. As the Deputy is probably aware, it is closed to new entrants at present while we are restructuring the scheme. This is being done in consultation with the steering group, which has representatives from the sector. What is not reflected in the figures is...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I am not 100% familiar with the court decision, but I understand the Chair's point on its finding. It is important that if a community organisation is going to invest in a defibrillator, it should be in a position to maintain it as well. To my knowledge, it has been supported under the community enhancement scheme previously to some extent. I look forward to getting the Chair's...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I am not familiar with the particular lines in the subhead. This is specifically for the Charities Regulator, is it?

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development (Revised) (2 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Yes, I will.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Work Permits (1 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 198. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the status of plans for the development of seasonal work permits. [4574/22]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Food Poverty (1 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 – 2025, which was adopted by Government and published in January 2020, includes a commitment to ‘Develop a comprehensive programme of work to further explore the drivers of food poverty and to identify mitigating actions’ (Commitment 61). The Food Poverty Working Group, which I chair, was established in April 2021 and aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (1 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 845. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans for a food ombudsman. [4573/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Process (1 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department has governance responsibility for the Charities Regulator, and for legislation governing charities. Under the Charities Act 2009, there are seven remaining sections of the 2009 Act to be commenced, section 89 and sections 93 to 98 respectively. My Department is currently preparing the Charities (Amendment) Bill, which proposes amendments to the 2009 Act, including...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Development Companies (1 Feb 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme(SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. It is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) and aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. SICAPworkers have extensive local connections and in-depth...