Results 5,461-5,480 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science and Technology Groups (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Since Ireland joined the European Space Agency (ESA) in 1975, Irish industry and research groups have been at the heart of Europe’s space missions building a reputation as providers of innovative technologies for use in the European space programme. My Department, in association with Enterprise Ireland, supports Irish companies to bid on ESA development contracts and to exploit the...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Innovation Vouchers Initiative (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Initiative was established in 2007 in order to drive an ongoing innovation cultural shift within small enterprise by promoting and encouraging a transfer of knowledge between Ireland's public knowledge providers and the small business community and creating greater synergies between the two. This scheme provides small companies access to the sources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 546 together. Bus Éireann is responsible for the day to day operation of my Department's School Transport Scheme. Bus Éireann has advised that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to school transport routes operated by the Company is not readily available on a per county basis. If the Deputy has a particular county in mind...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Youthreach and CTCs cater for learners aged 15 to 25. Statistical returns forwarded by ETBs to my Department show that 1,854 participants commenced a Youthreach programme in 2013. SOLAS reports that 1,480 participants commenced a Community Training Centre course in 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides courses of up to two years duration for people who are 21 years of age or over, and who are at least six months unemployed. The end of year annual survey conducted by ETBs showed that on 31 December 2013 there were 5,649 participants on VTOS with 1,040 of these under 25. Further details on the number of those under 25 who enrolled...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The procurement process for this programme was undertaken by SOLAS prior to the transfer of responsibilities to the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, however this matter is now an operational matter for that ETB. I understand that the company in question won the delivery of the Sports Recreation and Exercise Course in Ennis following a competitive tendering process. Pool...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes. School transport is provided on the basis of a coordinated school calendar, agreed amongst schools that rely on the same network of bus services. My Department is reviewing the services in question with Bus Éireann and will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (16 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 4.8 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which operates the school transport scheme on...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Innovation and Technology Programmes (17 Dec 2014)

Damien English: My Department, and the relevant State Agencies under its remit, have a clear focus on the role of innovation as a key driver of business success and growth. Enterprise Ireland, IDA and Science Foundation Ireland (SFI), provide a range of innovation and technology development programmes that deliver financial, technical and experiential support. These programmes help companies become more...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (17 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Investment in Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) is a key economic differentiator which can support Irish companies of all scales to adapt to, and excel in a global market which in turn leads to increased exports and jobs. As a result the Government considers that it is critical that Irish companies are supported to engage in RD&I. National statistics show that...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it affords me the opportunity to outline the process used to ensure that there will be adequate accommodation in schools at primary and post-primary levels to meet the demographic needs arising. The forward planning section of my Department has carried out a study of the country to identify the areas where, due to demographic changes, there may...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I cannot give the Deputy all of the information he requested but I will raise the issues directly. The plan is that construction will proceed before the end of 2015. This means the temporary accommodation will have to be addressed in September but there is a drive to begin construction in 2015 and I presume the project will be completed in 2016. It was in the five year plan and I can...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Arrears Rate (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, and to set out recent developments in this area. There is no doubt that some families across the country are experiencing genuine difficulties in meeting their monthly mortgage repayments. The Government is fully aware of the impact this is having on these families and...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Arrears Rate (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: There is a helpline.

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Arrears Rate (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I will raise the Deputy’s concerns with the Minister, who will have time to read over the debate. He is sorry he could not be here. The Deputy asked whether the restructures were working. The review shows that 83% of restructures are meeting their terms and my evidence as a Deputy matches it. That would generally mean they are working. I have had very few people coming back to me...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Arrears Rate (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: The figures for the past couple of years have not shown this. The Deputy raised the issue of buy-to-let properties and I can ask the Minister to reply to him on that directly as it is separate. Most of the initiatives we have put in place are to protect the family home. We have put codes of conduct in place, which have been addressed. The Deputy is scaring people by talking about tens of...

Topical Issue Debate: Mortgage Arrears Rate (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: Three years ago some of the Deputy’s party colleagues told us there would be tens of thousands of repossessions, but this has not happened. The Deputy is scaring people. While some people, after all the efforts, may have to give up their family homes for whatever reason, it will not be tens of thousands. It is wrong to give that impression. The Government inherited this mess and is...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am taking the debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, who apologises for the fact that he could not be here, although he makes an effort to try to hear all Topical Issue debates. The Government is conscious of the importance of the medical card system in ensuring that people whose needs do not enable them to...

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: People have put such cases on the record, and the Minister has made it very clear that it is unacceptable. It is certainly unacceptable that information gets lost, mislaid or delayed. He has made it clear that this aspect is not good enough and needs to be reformed. There have been many such stories, and it was part of the review of the application process which the Minister has organised....

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Administration (18 Dec 2014)

Damien English: I again thank Deputy Terence Flanagan for raising these issues. I certainly will pass on to the Minister the Deputy's desire for an investigation into where information is stored or where it has gone. As for the examples the Deputy is given, as well as others provided by other Members - I believe all Members probably have had negative experiences of the process - this is why, when the...