Results 301-320 of 898 for speaker:Joe O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. In order to support the sector, my Department has put in place a number of initiatives including the following. A €50 million support packagefor the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. In order to support the sector, my Department put in place a range of measures over the period of the pandemic, including the following initiatives. A €50...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

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 delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. In order to better support the sector my Department has led on the following initiatives over the period of the pandemic; Early in the pandemic, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enhancement Programme (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programme provides small capital grants to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. I launched two rounds of the programme this year, the first in April with funding of €2m and the second in August with funding of €5m from the Government's July Stimulus Package. Under the programme, funding is allocated to each Local Authority area taking account of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Public Participation Networks (PPNs) are the main link between local authorities and the community and voluntary, social inclusion and environmental sectors within their areas. PPNs play a critical role in increasing participation in policymaking at local and national level. PPNs are now established in all 31 local authority areas, and over 17,500 volunteer-run groups nationwide are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community organisations such as the one referenced by the Deputy are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. For example, my Department funds the Community Enhancement Programme. The 2020 programme was launched in June with funding of €2m providing small capital grants to community organisations towards enhancing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

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 delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Enhancement Programme (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programme provides small capital grants to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. I launched two rounds of the programme this year, the first in April with funding of €2m and the second in August with funding of €5m from the Government's July Stimulus Package. Under the programme, funding is allocated to each Local Authority area taking account of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 81 together. I am pleased to advise that the National Volunteering Strategy was launched on the 5thDecember, which coincided with International Volunteering Day. The purpose of the National Volunteering Strategy is to recognise, support and promote the unique value and contribution of volunteers to Irish society. It also provides an opportunity for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Through my ongoing engagement with the Community and Voluntary sector, I am keenly aware of the challenges faced by the sector and their communities both rural and urban at this time whilst meeting increased demands on many of their services. My Department has put a range of initiatives in place that provide operating supports to the community sector during the pandemic. A €45...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Initiatives (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Development Programme(CDP) was established in 1990. It sought to challenge the underlying causes of disadvantage resulting from the effects of poverty and exclusion. Up to 200 Projects and organisations were funded under the Programme. These projects had an anti-poverty, anti-exclusion focus and were managed by a voluntary board of management drawn from the local community....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: While community facilities are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies, some examples of the supports provided by my Department to community organisations include a€45 million support packagefor the Community and Voluntary Sector, Charities and Social Enterprises. This funding is being made available through the Dormant Accounts...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: Community facilities such as community halls are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. Some of the supports provided by my Department towards community facilities are outlined below. My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP)supports over 420 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Special Areas of Conservation (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 339. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the assessment by the NPWS of the current status of the SAC 004025 in Malahide, County Dublin; the actions it has taken to protect the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44332/20]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Schemes (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 425 together. Tús is a community work placement initiative that commenced operation in 2011 as a response to high levels of unemployment, providing short-term work opportunities for those who have been unemployed for more than a year, in community work placements. The duration of each Tús contract is 12 months. During the first...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Free Travel Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 419. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the applicability of the free travel pass to taxis for persons who do not have access to a public transport route but need to travel for medical or hospital appointments. [44334/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (17 Dec 2020)

Joe O'Brien: 574. To ask the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to amending the provisional vaccine allocation groups to prioritise persons with Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44331/20]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

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 delivering...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

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 delivering...