Results 1,561-1,580 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I am open to hearing where there are gaps. Our initial plans this year are based on agreement with the cross-sectoral group that oversees the national strategy. Various community and voluntary sectors are represented on that group. It has prioritised the three areas that I have mentioned. We are, therefore, taking our lead from it. As the Deputy knows, the community and voluntary...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: While that was a one-off funding round, men's sheds are a testament to the vibrancy of the community and voluntary sector in continually identifying new areas of need. The men's shed movement has been one of the stand-out exceptional examples over the past few years. However, other Departments and agencies are funding men's sheds, which is a good thing and ensures their future growth. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I reiterate and double down on the Deputy's recognition of the value of the men's sheds programme. It is an extraordinary group. In the stability fund last year, we provided the national organisation with a €70,000 grant. As community groups go, it is very vibrant. Looking at how the number of member groups has grown in the past ten years, they went from 40 in 2011 and increased to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Men's Sheds (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The emergence of men's sheds in recent years has been a positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. My Department is providing a range of supports which both men's and women's sheds can avail of, depending on the works...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: A range of my Department’s programmes provide funding to community group projects across the entire country. Each programme has a different focus and rationale which informs the allocation of funding. I will mention just a few examples here. TheCommunity Enhancement Programmeprovides grants to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas and is administered by Local Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is strongly committed to promoting equality, preventing discrimination and protecting the human rights of employees, customers, service users and everyone impacted by our policies and strategies, in recognition of the legal obligations conferred on it by section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act, 2014. The Scheme to Support National Organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Given the role of my Department in supporting the economic and social development of rural Ireland, and community development throughout Ireland, many of our existing funding schemes support the response to, and recovery from, the pandemic in some way. However, a number of specific targeted measures are aimed at directly supporting the COVID response and recovery. The main focus has been...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regulatory Impact Assessments (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (Charities Regulator) is the statutory body responsible for regulating charitable organisations in Ireland. The Charities Regulator was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to update legislative provisions with the Charities Regulator, to ensure it has the necessary powers to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (15 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Under the Dormant Accounts Fund legislation a Disbursement Scheme is prepared at least every three years. This sets out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements from the account, and the strategies for achieving these objectives. Then, to give effect to the Disbursement Scheme, Action Plans must be prepared, at least once a year. These Action Plans contain details of programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products (14 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 387. To ask the Minister for Health when the result of the full health technology assessment which was due to be concluded in April 2021 will be available in relation to the gene therapy treatment zolgensma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31273/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (14 Jul 2021)

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 a...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Unaccompanied Minors and Separated Children (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 492. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of protection applicants who presented as unaccompanied minors that have been age-disputed and subjected to an assessment by Tusla since the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015; the number deemed as adults and placed into direct provision; and the number deemed minors and placed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 523. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many Irish prospective students at UK universities have not yet received clarity on their eligibility to access UK home fees and tuition fee loans from UK universities for the forthcoming academic year; if he has engaged with his counterpart in the UK Government to advocate that this is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (13 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulator, under the aegis of my Department, is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with a mandate to promote good governance practice. While my Department has responsibility for governance oversight of the Charities Regulator, the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Government are aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and are committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. To that end, Government and my Department have introduced a wide range of supports to assist sectors in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and social...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 49. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if citizens who have been fully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccines in a jurisdiction outside of the EU, for example, in the United States of America will be eligible to apply for the EU Digital COVID Certificate upon return to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36749/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (7 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 for CE supervisors and assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsors. This claim creates some...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (7 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Social Protection delivers a range of employment and income support schemes including Community Employment (CE) and the Rural Social Scheme (RSS). These schemes are delivered by independent bodies funded by the Department. RSS is delivered by 37 local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta, known collectively as Implementing Bodies. CE is delivered by...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (7 Jul 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 145. To ask the Minister for Health the potential of current and planned Covid-19 vaccines to vaccinate children under 15 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30454/21]