Results 141-160 of 1,318 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Joe O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (3 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The aim of the Community Employment (CE) programme is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and long-term unemployed people by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their local communities on a temporary fixed term basis. The programme aims to improve a person’s opportunities to return to employment. Those who are unemployed and in receipt of an...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Youth Services (3 May 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the provision of funding for delivery of support services to youth organisations. While my Department may provide some ad-hoc funding under our programmes to youth-focused organisations for specific initiatives, it does not provide any direct funding for delivery of support services for young people....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (27 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 to improve their prospect of returning to employment. Participation on CE is for 19.5 hours per...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Public Participation Networks (PPNs) were established under the Local Government Reform Act of 2014. They provide representation for the community sector in local policymaking, giving local groups a greater say in local government decisions which 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cost of Living Issues (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are vulnerable to the impact of challenges such as the increased energy costs in recent months. In response to the rising energy costs during Winter 2022, Government introduced a number of supports to assist with those costs. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. My Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current programme began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. The programme provides...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My officials have regular engagement with the Department of Health regarding the National Drugs Strategy. My Department is represented on the Strategic Implementation Group (4) of Reducing Harm and Supporting Recovery. This group comprises sectoral, agency and Departmental officials. The strategy is relevant to my Department's work in the community and voluntary sectors as it is vital in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Support Fund, launched on 18 November, is a Fund designed to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Support is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The fund will deliver small grants to help groups with running costs and rising...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Support Fund, launched on 18 November, is a Fund designed to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Support is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The fund will deliver small grants to help groups with running costs and rising...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department is currently drafting a National Policy on Philanthropy with the assistance of a National Advisory Group drawn from the wider philanthropy sector. The aim of the policy, which will be the first national policy on philanthropy in Ireland, is to support and facilitate philanthropy in Ireland and to further develop its potential. Laying the groundwork for this policy began with a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: My Department does not operate a dedicated fund for first responder groups and there are currently no plans to introduce a specific capital fund dedicated to this purpose. However, some of my Department's programmes fund the purchase of capital equipment such as through the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (25 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. My Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (20 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Deputy will be aware that a final settlement was reached with unions at the end of 2021 to implement a 2008 Labour Court recommendation relating to the provision of a pension scheme for CE supervisors and CE assistant supervisors who are employed by CE scheme sponsoring organisations. The settlement resolved the long-standing issue through the payment of a once off ex-gratia payment to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: 147. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the human rights and political situation in Peru; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18297/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: 520. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the building of the second phase of a school (details supplied) due to commence works in September 2023 and for completion by September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17007/23]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (18 Apr 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice. My Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities Regulator. It...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (30 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment Scheme (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. CE sponsoring bodies receive state funding to cover the salary costs of supervisors, assistant supervisors, and participant...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: International Protection (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is the lead department for all matters relating to the provision of support for applicants for international protection. The report by the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protections Process, chaired by Dr Catherine Day, was published in September 2020. A...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: Community Employment (CE) supervisors and assistant supervisors provide a very important role running CE schemes countrywide. These schemes deliver important locally based community services, while providing a valuable training and development opportunity to the long-term unemployed and to those furthest removed from the labour market. CE supervisors and assistant supervisors are...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (28 Mar 2023)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 118 together. The aim of Community Employment (CE) is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed persons by providing work experience and training opportunities for them within their communities. In addition, it helps long-term unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a...