Results 1-20 of 65 for via speaker:Joe O'Brien

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Waterways Issues (21 May 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...planned in the coming days to develop a shared approach that ensures the blueway remains accessible and welcoming for all users. Funding for the programme of works to create the 46 km blueway was secured via a successful joint application by Waterways Ireland, Kildare County Council and Laois County Council to the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, and through funding from...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: International Protection (9 May 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants. This year’s allocation is in addition to the €50 million allocated in 2023 under the same scheme, bringing the total investment via the Community Recognition Fund to €100 million. Under the 2023 scheme, some 900 projects were identified nationwide and I look forward to seeing the same level of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (11 Apr 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...of this scheme is managed on a devolved basis by the relevant school authority. As part of our digital strategy and streamlining arrangements, applications for emergency works can now be made via an online portal called Esinet. As I mentioned, there are two live applications for the school in question. The first application refers to a funding request from the school for roof works....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (21 Mar 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...of up to €3,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. The individual grants will be distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). Officials in my Department have informed me the IMSA opened the application process on...

Services for those Seeking Protection in Ireland: Statements (30 Jan 2024)

Joe O'Brien: ...fund has been allocated to local authorities based on the number of new arrivals they have accommodated. Community integration work is also supported by my Department of children and integration via the community integration fund, the new international protection integration fund and the larger funds I will announce later this year, namely, the national integration fund and the asylum...

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

Joe O'Brien: ...this funding. Budget 2024 has provision for an additional €1m for the relevant sub-head and I have committed to a significant increase in funding for the LCDCs for 2024. The review of funding of LCDC-related functions via the ASR also forms part of a wider consideration of how DRCD can support local authorities to deliver on DRCD funded capital schemes and programmes more generally.

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

Joe O'Brien: ...of local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP supports a range of services and activities that enhance the quality of life of older people, including the provision of meals within centres and via a meals-on-wheels service. The Positive Ageing Strategy has a specific goal regarding removing barriers to participation. My Department contributes to this through supports for...

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

Joe O'Brien: ...protection applicants that we secured last year, but also for 2024. In addition to that, we secured an increase in the budget of 6% under SICAP. I acknowledge the amazing work being done by SICAP via local development companies throughout the country. I will briefly mention an interesting initiative that ETBs in Cork and Dublin have established to assist international protection...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (5 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...Areas; Galway East, Galway West and Galway Islands. Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, Galway County LCDC in consultation with my Department Officials have issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in Galway County, advising that the current SICAP Contract will be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (5 Dec 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...ongoing in other areas. Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, LCDCs in Galway County and in Meath, following consultation with my Department Officials, have issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in their areas, advising that the current SICAP Contract in those areas will be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time...

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,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Rail Network (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...this issue and to provide the House with an update on the future development of the western rail corridor. As the Deputies may be aware, services have been operating between Limerick and Athenry via Ennis on a section of the western rail corridor since 2010. In 2021, two reports were published in respect of the proposed reopening of the western rail corridor, phases 2 and 3, and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drugs Strategy (23 Feb 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...effective. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, met them a couple of months ago. They have intervened at a street level and an individual level. We are not taking all that on. We are just doing that via SICAP to show what can be done and good practice too. I will say a little more about the task force in my second supplementary answer.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (23 Feb 2023)

Joe O'Brien: ...Inclusive and Empowered Communities. Streamlining the compliance and reporting burden faced by the community and voluntary sector across many different agents of the State has been identified by the Department, via engagement with the sector, as a key requirement. My Department subsequently recognized the term 'centralised database' did not adequately capture the intent of the proposal,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: International Protection (15 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...in regular contact with IPAS and my Department provides a range of supports to people in the International Protection system once they are accommodated in a community. These supports are provided via SICAP, the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, which provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (15 Dec 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Government has provided over €38.2 million to date in funding for the North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC) via my Department to help ensure that the recommendations of the Mulvey Report and the actions contained in the NEIC Strategic Plan 2020-2022 are implemented. In 2022 the NEIC Programme Implementation Board took the decision to extend the Strategic Plan by a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (29 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...the enhancement of facilities. Furthermore, my department recently announced funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds with running costs. The individual grants will be distributed to the over 400 Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). These Schemes are part of a range of supports introduced through Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (15 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...in disadvantaged areas, with their running/operating costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Men’s Sheds and women's sheds were free to apply for this funding via their LCDCs. Details of successful projects from each LCDC will be available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/drcd The Social Inclusion and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (26 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ...a grant funding relationship with the state. Streamlining the compliance and reporting burden faced by the community and voluntary sector across many different agents of the State has been identified by my Department, via engagement with the sector, as a key requirement. The merits of proceeding with this approach would be dependent on establishing a whole-of-government approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: ..., particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running/operating costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Men's Sheds were free to apply for this funding via their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). A list of all successful CAF projects is available at this link www.gov.ie. Funding under the LEADER programme is not...