Results 301-320 of 1,310 for speaker:Joe O'Brien in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Fórsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Employment programme is delivered by locally based sponsor organisations across the country. In total, there are over 840 such companies involved in the delivery of the programme. Officials from the Department are currently compiling the list of 840 Community Employment Sponsoring Organisations and will provide it at an early date under separate cover to the Deputy. I trust this...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Work schemes such as Community Employment (CE) are positive initiatives that enable long-term unemployed to make a contribution to their communities whilst upskilling themselves for prospective future employment. However, it is important to note that participation on these schemes is intended to be for a temporary fixed-term and the positions offered are not full-time sustainable jobs....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: As the Deputy is aware, Community Employment (CE) supervisors and CE assistant supervisors sought for several years through their union representatives, SIPTU and Forsa, the allocation of Exchequer funding 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...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: We are all very conscious of the important role that Community Employment (CE) and other programmes play in our communities. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities. The programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Community Employment Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: We are all very conscious of the important role that Community Employment (CE) and other programmes play in our communities. In addition to providing valuable occupational experience and training as a stepping-stone to employment for people who are unemployed, schemes such as CE also provide important and, in many cases essential, services to their local communities. The programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My Department introduced a range of supports to help community and voluntary organisations meet the challenges they faced during and after COVID-19. For instance, in 2020, €4.2 million was provided under the COVID-19 Emergency Fundwhich targeted help at groups participating in the Government’s “Community Call” initiative.  The Community Activities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP currently provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager. The CSP...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Dormant Accounts Act provides for a scheme to disburse funds for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist (i) the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged, (ii) the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged, or (iii) persons with a disability. As such, a scheme to finance the compulsory purchase of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (8 Nov 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Community Enhancement Programmeprovides vital supports to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland. The programme has provided over €43 million in funding to over 17,000 projects since 2018 with small grants for the improvement of facilities. An iteration of the scheme will run again in 2022. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current iteration began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. My officials have begun the process of developing a new iteration of SICAP which will begin in 2024. The programme provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model. Following an independent review of the CSP, a needs-based funding rate allocation model was designed for the programme, based on three weighted criteria, as an alternative to the current flat rate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Sector Pay (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Pobal is a not-for-profit company which works on behalf of Irish Government and European Union in managing programmes that contribute to social inclusion, equality and reconciliation. It comprises of a Board of Directors who are responsible for the governance and strategic direction of Pobal. The Board operates to best practice corporate governance principles ensuring compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: I presume the Deputy is referring to Dormant Accounts funding which is provided to this organisation by Pobal, through a measure administered by the Department of Social Protection. As such, the Department of Rural and Community Development is not responsible for this measure or the relevant funding provided to the organisation in question. I asked my officials in the Department of Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Recycling Policy (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: On 28 April 2021, my department, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, announced the introduction of a three-year pilot initiative to develop a scheme for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes as an alternative to the Cycle to Work Scheme model, for those on low incomes and/or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged. A call for applications was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (27 Oct 2022)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Energy Prices (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector in meeting the high cost of energy currently and is committed to supporting the sector in meeting these costs. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: Funded by my Department, the pilot Place-Based Leadership Development (P-BLD) Programme is being delivered in Darndale and Drogheda further to recommendations from the Nolan and Geiran reports. The Programme is an investment in local leaders to help them address the challenges experienced in those areas. The P-BLD programme will strengthen the capacity of those already working hard to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: United Nations (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty, held annually on October 17th, is an important reminder that many people, both internationally and in Ireland, continue to live in poverty. In Ireland each year there are a series of events to mark the meaning of the day on or around the 17thof October. The day is promoted in Ireland by the 17 October Committee and All Together in...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (27 Oct 2022)

Joe O'Brien: The purpose of the Fuel Allowance payment is to assist households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household. If a participant on a Community Employment (CE) scheme was in receipt of Fuel Allowance prior to going on the scheme, they continue to receive the Fuel Allowance payment while participating on the scheme, once they...