Results 141-160 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. I understand that the organisation in question is currently in receipt of CSP supports for one manager and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: As I understand it this group is involved in supports for Men's mental health which aligns with the ethos of the Irish Men's Sheds Association. My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, which may be of assistance to the group referred to in the Deputy's question. Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,300 Men’s Shed...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (23 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2687 and 2688 together. The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The newly appointed Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism will monitor progress towards the objectives of the National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR). The Special Rapporteur will make an annual report to the Minister; this report will also be submitted to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. To support this work, an Advisory Committee on Racism and Racial Equality, chaired...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Departmental Bodies (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR), which was developed by an independent Anti-Racism Committee and approved by the Government for publication in March 2023, recommended the appointment of a Special Rapporteur on Racial Equality and Racism to ensure effective monitoring and implementation of the plan. An open competition for the purpose of recommending an individual for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (9 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. I am aware that the organisation in question is currently in receipt of CSP supports for one full time...

Seanad: Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for his question. Primarily it is the collective responsibility of a board of trustees. Issues can come to the regulator's attention when complaints are lodged by a member of the public or anyone else with the Charities Regulator. The regulator can engage collectively with the organisation if there are concerns around whether there has been proper governance. If the...

Seanad: Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I take the opportunity to record my thanks to all Members who engaged as part of the wider deliberative process. I extend my thanks to the Charities Regulator, which has worked closely with my Department in the preparation of this important legislation. In particular, I acknowledge the contributions of the community and voluntary sector, including The Wheel, the Charities Institute Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: State Bodies (4 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulator was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Regulator is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating Ireland’s charities. While this Department has been assigned overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator, the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. The...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Second Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senators for facilitating an early date for consideration of this important legislation. The Bill seeks to improve and update our civil registration legislation and associated registration processes. It will allow parents and bereaved families to use an online registration facility to register a birth, death or stillbirth online. In addition, the Bill proposes to update the...

Seanad: Civil Registration (Electronic Registration) Bill 2024: Second Stage (3 Jul 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank all Senators who contributed to the discussion. I very much appreciate their support across the board for progressing the measures contained in the Bill. These measures, combined with the technical changes to the civil registration computer system, will have a positive impact on how the State’s civil registration service operates and interacts with our citizens. I want to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta (27 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Is é Clár um Chuimsiú Sóisialta agus Gníomhachtú Pobail (SICAP) mo Roinne, an príomh-idirghabháil cuimsithe shóisialta atá againn sa tír seo. Is clár náisiúnta é a chuireann Cuideachtaí Forbartha Áitiúla ar fáil i gceantair thuaithe agus i gceantair uirbeacha araon, chun cabhrú leo siúd is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I take the opportunity to acknowledge the child-centred approach of St. Anne's special school. I read up about the school in advance, and it is to be commended on how it does things and works with children. I could read out all the statistics outlining the scale of the hot school meals programme. It is very large-scale programme and we want to cover all schools eventually. The nature of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Meals Programme (26 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The objective of the school meals programme is to provide regular nutritious food to children to support them in taking full advantage of the education provided to them. The programme is an important component of policy to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement. Following a significant expansion in recent years, some 2,600...

Seanad: Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I am delighted to present this Bill, which is an essential step to enhance and strengthen the existing framework for regulating charities in Ireland. Our charity sector is an important and valued part of Irish society, playing an integral role in the provision of services to our communities. With just under 11,500 charities on the Charities Register, the work of the regulator is vitally...

Seanad: Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Members for their contributions to this important debate. Our charities sector plays a crucial role in connecting the wider public with opportunities to support and improve communities and society at large. It also plays an integral role in the provision of services to our communities. The purpose of this Bill is to strengthen this valued sector, ensuring greater transparency,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (25 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. I am aware that the organisation in question is currently in receipt of CSP supports for a Manager...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (20 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I take the Deputy's point on the position of the LCDCs. They are at a fairly high level. I will take the opportunity to again encourage small groups to join the local PPN because, when they are in there, they have a pass into what the local authority has available. I refer to staff and training but also the grants I mentioned with which we support them. I will also mention the volunteer...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (20 Jun 2024)

Joe O'Brien: In many respects, we have done what the Deputy is describing, albeit in a different way. The audit we have done is based on the CSO's small area population data. This is at the level of a large estate or a couple of hundred houses. We have based our audit not on what groups are in the area, but on socioeconomic deprivation. Two years ago, I launched the empowering communities programme....