Results 1,321-1,340 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Report on Bogus Self-Employment: Motion (27 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I am familiar with the time Deputy Boyd Barrett described when he referenced events ten or 15 years ago. In a previous role, I assisted migrant workers in the construction industry to engage with the scope section and their employers. In my constituency, airline pilots have also faced that issue. As agreed by all Deputies this evening, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Industry (27 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 368. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of County Dublin-based producers on the Food Producers Register; and the number of producers in each category as outlined in the registration form, such as, outdoor salad vegetables, indoor salad vegetables and soft fruit in tabular form. [3990/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: After-School Support Services (27 Jan 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. The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides small capital grants to community groups and organisations across Ireland, with a focus on areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Policy (25 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 680. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if guidance on the legislation governing limitations on common ragwort, field thistle, spear thistle, broad-leaved dock and curled dock will be provided; and his plans to review these limitations given the value of these plants to Ireland's biodiversity and broader ecosystem. [2936/22]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Priorities (25 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Government's five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities’ commits my Department to support education, training and capacity building for the sector. In this regard, a training needs assessment is currently being conducted for the community and voluntary sector and the outcomes of this will be implemented...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I understand that, in the main, domestic violence issues and the associated funding streams are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, and are legislated for in the Domestic Violence Act 2018. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. A key objective of all my...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 254, 256 and 258 together. As the Deputies are aware, the 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.   During the COVID pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: 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 to improve their prospect of returning to employment.  Generally,  up to a certain age,  participants contracts on CE...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 927 to 932, inclusive, and 993 to 1005, inclusive, together. As Minister of State with responsibility for social inclusion, I oversee the implementation of the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, the national strategy for poverty reduction and improved social inclusion.  The Roadmap aims to reduce the percentage of the population in consistent poverty...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: RSS (Rural Social Scheme) is delivered by a network of 36 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, known collectively as implementing bodies (IBs). The IB delivering the RSS in County Clare is the Clare Local Development Company. RSS is an income support scheme that provides part-time employment opportunities for farmers and fishermen and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 978 and 980 together. The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Tús are delivered by a network of 49 local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta, known collectively as implementing bodies (IBs). Both RSS and Tús  are delivered in Co. Clare by the Clare Local Development Company. RSS is an income...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Substance Misuse (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department supports Local Development Companies (sometimes referred to as 'area partnerships') via SICAPor the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.  SICAPaims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.  SICAPactions are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department supports Local Development Companies (sometimes referred to as 'area partnerships') via SICAPor the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.  SICAPaims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.  SICAPactions are delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department has a number of schemes that are relevant to community centres, an example is the Community Enhancement Programme.  The programme provided €4.5m funding in 2021 for small capital grants for the improvement of facilities and it will be available again in 2022.   The COVID-19 Stability Fund 2021 was launched on Thursday 6th May 2021, and was targeted at...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme.  The current iteration began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023.  The programme enables vital work in helping individuals and groups, by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Investigations (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: In February 2021, my officials became aware of an issue that my Department considered warranted an independent investigation to consider whether due process and natural justice had been applied. All parties to the matter were informed of the intention of the Department to appoint an independent investigator. An experienced independent investigator was selected following a competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I acknowledge the importance of community centres, they are the cornerstone of community life in many places around the country. To fulfill a Programme for Government commitment to establish a small capital grants scheme for the maintenance and improvement of community centres, my department is establishing a new scheme for this purpose. The details of this scheme are currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department currently have a number of schemes that are relevant to community centres such as the Community Enhancement Programme.  The programme in 2021 provided €4.5m funding for small capital grants for the improvement of facilities and it will be available again in 2022.   In November 2021 I launched €9m Community Activities Fundto support community and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Jan 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department does not operate a dedicated fund for the purchase, installation, maintenance, repair or service of defibrillators and there are currently no plans to introduce a specific current fund dedicated to this purpose. However, some of my Department's programmes fund the purchase of capital equipment such as through the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rural Schemes (16 Dec 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue here today. The LEADER programme has been a very successful initiative for 30 years in Ireland. I am in no doubt that there is real value in the continued support for bottom-up locally-led initiatives that address the needs of communities all across the country and this is the hallmark of the LEADER approach. In fact, this direct link to local...