Results 161-180 of 502 for speaker:Joe O'Brien in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Participation Networks (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. PPNs provide representation for the community sector in local policymaking, giving local groups a say in local government decisions that affect their communities. There is a PPN in each of the 31 local authority areas and membership of a PPN is open to volunteer-led and not-for-profit groups in each area. The network has grown substantially since its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Participation Networks (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Authentic engagement can take a bit of time sometimes and PPNs are specifically set up with a flat structure. That makes them difficult when it comes to decision-making sometimes and that has been recognised. I was also very conscious of what the Deputy listed, but it has been done in conjunction with the PPNs, so participatory and co-design processes are being used to ensure stakeholders...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Participation Networks (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: It is important to say the PPNs are independent structures and are funded independently. We gave them a significant budgetary increase last year as well. I have a couple of important points to add. On foot of the findings from the PPN structural review, the Department is commissioning research to investigate any potential barriers to involvement in PPNs. The research will explore the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for raising that particular point. I will take the opportunity to acknowledge all the board members across the country who do all the unseen work behind the scenes, much of which is tough drudgery and administrative work that does not always get acknowledged and seen. We are doing a needs assessment. We are currently working on a research programme to establish the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I take the Deputy's point about costs. We have different levels of funding for different types of organisations. The level the Deputy is talking about tends in many cases to get support via LCDCs and the community support fund we are in the process of rolling out across local authorities at the moment. We announced last year that €10 million would be available to grassroots groups,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: In 2019, my Department published Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024. The strategy reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector and addressing some of the burdens faced by service providers, while also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I understand the submission from Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign to the Citizens' Assembly on Drug Use makes a number of suggestions for key areas of action, including further investment in community development responses and the need to enhance the voice of communities in tackling deprivation and its links with drug abuse. The Deputy will appreciate that some of the actions called for in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I will flesh out a little my Department’s responsibilities on the national drug strategy. My Department has two main goals within the strategy, both of which are implemented under SICAP. These are to provide supports, including homework clubs, additional tuition and career guidance counselling and to support community awareness of drugs programmes and youth work in collaboration with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Misuse of Drugs (13 Jun 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I also want to mention the role of drug task forces. Local and regional drug and alcohol task forces implement the national drug strategy in the context of the needs of their local areas. The strategy is implemented through action plans that have identified existing and emerging gaps in supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. In my own area, I would mention...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Communications (30 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I assure the Deputy there are layers of communication across all levels of Government. At the highest level, we have the Cabinet subcommittee on Ukraine. We also have a senior officials' group. At a local level, we have community response forums, which are co-ordinated at a higher level by the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and County and City Management Association, CCMA. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Communications (30 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputy for the question. Since the beginning of 2022, Ireland and many other European countries have experienced a significant increase of new arrivals seeking international protection. As of 26 May, there are over 20,600 people accommodated in the international protection accommodation services, IPAS, system as a whole, compared with 11,000 people at this time last year....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Communications (30 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is developing a more strategic long-term plan to deal with the allocation of accommodation in consultation with local government. Government is also developing a more systematic approach to communicate with local communities. A tender process was initiated by the Department of the Taoiseach on 25 April to seek support and advice in the development of effective public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The RSS implementing bodies undertake a diverse range of activities including the regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, environmental maintenance work and the staffing of cultural, tourism and heritage sites. I acknowledge the excellent work undertaken and the contribution these schemes and their workers make to communities across the country. The RSS has a budget of more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Deputies. I dispute the fact but I understand why people are concerned and that they would think it might drag on. I am determined that it is going to be as tight as possible. At the same time, we need to get the views in. I want to refresh it. I do not just want to make one or two tweaks to it. The scheme has huge potential in the long term and there are opportunities that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I would not question the Deputy's knowledge on the RSS ever. He will know too the answer that I am able to give, that I will use the phrase, "It is a budgetary matter", and that I do not control the strings in the middle of a budget year. I attended the first meeting of the review group. It was very clear that the income side of it came up there as well. We had 1,000 submissions to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The seniors alert scheme provides funding for a free personal monitored alarm for people aged 65 or older and of limited means. The scheme is intended to support older people to live securely and independently in their homes. It is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and administered by Pobal, with the support of local community and voluntary groups. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: We have a network of community and voluntary organisations throughout the country that should cover every geographic area. There are responsible community organisations in every area. If the Deputy believes a particular area is not properly covered, we would like to know about it. The organisations are effective in getting the word out. They use CE, Tús or RSS participants in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Employment Schemes (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy was speaking, two things occurred to me that we could do in terms of joined-up thinking. The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, which falls under the Department of Rural and Community Development, funds several friendly call service programmes nationally which contact older, often isolated, people by telephone. It grew up over Covid. Maybe we can ask...

Accommodation Needs for New Arrivals: Statements (23 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important and welcome debate. I thank all the Deputies who participated. I listened to almost all their contributions, including on my way to the House. The debate has been useful. The Department continues proactively to secure shelter from multiple sources to accommodate those fleeing the war in Ukraine and those applying for...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I will explain how we do engagement ahead of a new accommodation centre opening. As soon as a contract gets agreed, either I or the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, or close staff, will share a briefing, that is approximately six or seven pages long, on the details of that accommodation centre with all the local elected representatives. The problem is that the timeline between when the contract...