Results 1,841-1,860 of 2,335 for speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Local Authorities play an essential role in supporting vibrant and sustainable communities and community based services. My Department regularly engages with Local Authorities through their representation on the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development, who oversee implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: My Department has extensive engagement with the community and voluntary sector as part of its ongoing work to support empowered, inclusive and resilient communities and a thriving volunteer culture, and to help this sector to contribute fully to civil society. In the last year, in particular, my Department has put in place various initiatives including: - Worked with Pobal to put in place...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Activation Projects (12 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important issue. The Ability programme was introduced in June 2018 as pre-activation programme for young people with disabilities. Funding for this programme amounts to €16 million over a three-year period and it is being provided jointly under the European Social Fund employability inclusion and learning operational programme and the Exchequer...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Activation Projects (12 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank the Senator again for raising the issue. As Minister of State with responsibility for the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020-2025, I am very committed to improving and extending supports to help more people with disabilities to enter employment and stay in the workforce. The work the providers have done in the context of the Ability programme has been innovative and has made a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (11 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will make an announcement on the plans for the leaving certificate examination in 2021. [7541/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (11 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. In 2020, my Department provided support through the €45m COVID 19 Stability Fund for organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector, Charities and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (11 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. The Community and Voluntary Sector COVID-19 Stability Fund was intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) 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. In relation to my response to the Parliamentary Question no 176 of the 28th January, 2021, it is worth clarifying that it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: In general CE placements for new entrants aged between 21 and 55 years are for one year. CE participants who are working towards a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) major award can seek to extend their participation on CE by up to two years to enable them to reach the required standard of qualification. CE participants aged 55 years or older can remain on CE for three years and do...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: On clarification with the Deputy, the question refers to the continuing eligibility of a person to participate on the Rural Social Scheme (RSS), in the event that they secure periodic or seasonal employment, supplementary to their primary employment of farming or fishing. The RSS is a supplementary income support scheme providing part-time employment opportunities for farmers or...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 950. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that front-line staff in an organisation (details supplied) providing residential care services for adults with disabilities have yet to receive notification of when they will be vaccinated against Covid-19; when these front-line workers are likely to be vaccinated; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Written Answers — Department of Health: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 965. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to amending the Covid-19 vaccine allocation strategy to include persons undergoing medical treatment for serious illness as a distinct category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7431/21]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Volunteering Strategy (10 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I am pleased to advise that the National Volunteering Strategy was launched on the 5 December last, which coincided with International Volunteering Day. The purpose of the Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. It provides an opportunity for Government to acknowledge how important volunteering is to the well-being of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Expenditure (4 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 66. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has given consideration to requesting a spending review of the Department of Justice citizenship division in view of a recent report (details supplied) that highlighted processing delays for citizenship and naturalisation applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6197/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (4 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ASD unit places in schools in north Dublin; the estimated number of applicants for such places each year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6196/21]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (4 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and 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 who are employed by CE schemes.   CE sponsoring authorities are...

Household Utility Bills Support: Motion [Private Members] (3 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: I thank Deputies for an engaging discussion on the very important issue of fuel poverty. As outlined by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, we want to ensure that we provide the types of supports which offer help to the people who need it most. We want to avoid the use of untargeted measures which do not sufficiently prioritise and target those most in need...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (3 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 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.  As the Deputy is aware, my Department has continued to provide funding and support for CE schemes since the onset...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: 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. The payment rates on CE are related to the underlying value of certain social protection payments plus €22.50 per week....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2021)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) 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. Throughout the onset of the COVID-19 emergency in March 2020, the subsequent level 5 restrictions introduced in October 2020 and more...