Results 161-180 of 2,126 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: The national drug strategy, Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery, sets out government policy on drug and alcohol use for the period 2017 to 2025. The strategy provides an integrated health-led approach to drug and alcohol use, focused on reducing the harms for individuals, families and communities and promoting rehabilitation and recovery. The vision of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (30 Jan 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: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP contribution per full-time equivalent position is not aligned with the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: My Department provides a number of funding streams for a wide range of community and voluntary organisations, and I would encourage all interested groups to regularly engage with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Local Development Company (LDC) and Public Participation Network (PPN) in order to ensure they are informed of a range of funding opportunities as they arise. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. A key feature of the Local Enhancement Programme is that it is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600, 601, 602 and 609 together. My Department will continue to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities across Ireland, and places consultation and engagement at the centre of how it does that. The Budget 2024 provision of €431 million for my Department provides over €205 million for rural development and over €225...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: Last December, I was delighted to launch the 2024 Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. A key feature of the Local Enhancement Programme is that it is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Referral to Select Committee (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank all the Deputies who contributed to the debate. I appreciate the broad support for the Bill. I will use my time to address some of the issues raised. Reference was made to crowd funding platforms, including GoFundMe. Crowd funding tends to occur where a person or group seeks donations for an individual or a specific cause, such as seeking funds to pay for treatment for someone...

Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023: Second Stage (25 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am delighted to have the opportunity to bring the Charities (Amendment) Bill 2023 before the House. The passing of this Bill is an essential step to enhance and strengthen the existing framework for regulating charities in Ireland. The charity sector plays a crucial role in connecting the wider public with opportunities to support and...

Conflict in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory: Motion (23 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the motion. I was glad to cede the time given for the planned charities Bill, which will instead be taken on Thursday. The Irish public has watched with increasing horror the events of the past 100 days unfold. International human rights law is very important, but we do not need to be versed in it to see that what has been visited on the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I will give an initial response and then follow up with further information in my second reply. The community recognition fund is managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development and delivered locally by each of the local authorities around the country. The €50 million fund was introduced this time last year and I was...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Community Development Projects (23 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: To clarify, the Government is looking at how we can further support impacted towns and villages across a range of different public services. I look forward to seeing the proposals that emerge on that in the coming weeks. For now, specifically in relation to community recognition, the focus is very much on getting the approved projects delivered on the ground. These projects can only make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (17 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: 511. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the plan to build a permanent extension at a school (details supplied) in light of the initial design difficulties that have resulted in significant delays. [56816/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Public Sector Pay (17 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 890, 898 and 938 together. My Department operates a number of employment support schemes; including Tús, Rural Social Scheme (RSS) and Community Employment (CE), for long term unemployed persons and low income farmers/fishers. I would like to acknowledge the important role that Tús and RSS supervisors play in providing valuable opportunities to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Since early 2022, Ireland has provided accommodation to more than 99,000 people, between those fleeing Ukraine and international protection applicants. This includes more than 73,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection and more than 25,000 international protection applicants currently in IPAS accommodation. Prior to the war in Ukraine, there were 8,300 applicants for international...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I do not have enough time to list all the things we are doing, but we have a range of funds, including local funds and national funds. For example, the grants under the national integration fund and the asylum migration fund will be announced in the first quarter of next year. There are many other important initiatives. Each local authority has a local economic and community plan. They...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I am happy to take the opportunity to acknowledge the work of partnership companies. They are probably one of our key partners on the ground that are facilitating integration, particularly through the social inclusion and community activation programme. We have an additional €10 million allocation for work with Ukrainians and international protection applicants that we secured last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has a geographical focus for grant applications, as I outlined. I am also a Minister of State in the Department of Rural and Community Development, which provides social inclusion and community activation programme allocations and allocations to volunteer centres. Going into 2024, we are specifically looking at the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (14 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As I mentioned, there are checks and balances. There is independent oversight of the grant process. The Deputy’s figures are based on the number of requests for funding. There is another cut-off point in terms of viable projects as well. Sometimes we get requests for funding where the projects do not add up in terms of what has been put forward. That is where the independent set...