Results 5,521-5,540 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Job Losses (28 Jan 2015)

Damien English: I am sure there will no difficulty with doing what the Senators suggests. As he knows, the Minister always tries to involve everybody on these occasions, certainly on a cross-party issue. That is why a delegation from the county council, with Oireachtas Members, attended a meeting yesterday. As it is important that we all work together on this issue, I will certainly pass on the Senator's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (29 Jan 2015)

Damien English: Officials in my Department have reviewed the application for school transport for the child in question. They are satisfied that this child is not eligible for school transport, under the terms of the Post Primary School Transport Scheme, as she is not attending her nearest Gaelcholáiste. Furthermore, under the terms of my Department's Remote Area Boarding Grant scheme, provision is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (3 Feb 2015)

Damien English: My Department is responsible for the provision of school transport within this jurisdiction. As the college referred to by the Deputy is not within this jurisdiction the provision of school transport does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Bus Fleet (10 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Buses provide services to carry schoolchildren both under the Department of Education and Skills School Transport Scheme and also in a private capacity hired by, for example, parents of schoolchildren or schools. Every school bus is required to be tested under the Road Safety Authority's (RSA) Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), which is the primary annual vehicle safety...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Bus Fleet (10 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Bus Éireann has advised that depreciation is charged as a direct cost to the Department of Education and Skills in relation to Bus Éireann School Transport vehicles. Depreciation in this context relates to the amortisation of the capital cost of the vehicles and for the purposes of the direct cost is calculated on the replacement costs, which is in line with the approach agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (10 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The purpose of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school or education centre. The distance eligibility criterion is 3.2 kilometres and 4.8 kilometres for primary and post primary children respectively. Bus Éireann is...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: We have them.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Second Stage (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: It is happening.

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I agree.

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Reilly, has welcomed the opportunity to address the concerns raised by Deputies and to outline in detail the many positive developments in the provision of preschool care and education. I echo his words and thank Deputies for their contributions. Access to affordable and high-quality child care is an important issue for parents,...

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: That is why people have high mortgages hanging around them. To assist parents with the cost of child care, more than €250 million is provided each year by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Every Deputy agrees that this is not nearly enough and everyone would like to see more, but the money is just not there. Maintaining the current level has been difficult in light of...

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Fianna Fáil did not know how to manage the finances when it was in power and has certainly not learned its lesson. It can still not explain how it would pay for the additional spending being proposed.

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I agree with some of the proposals and they would be nice if we had money for them, but Fianna Fáil cannot back them up. In contrast, this Government wants a considered, coherent, whole-of-Government approach to investment in child care and is taking action to ensure that outcome and that we achieve the quality we need.

Child Care: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (11 Feb 2015)

Damien English: How did the Deputy's meeting go? Is that next week?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Participants on full time training courses formerly delivered by FÁS and participants on Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme courses receive travel allowances, based on distance travelled to the course, where appropriate. These courses are now delivered by Education and Training Boards and funded by SOLAS.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for school 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. Children who are eligible for school transport pay an annual charge of €350 subject...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Globalisation Fund (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The Department submitted an application on 19 September 2014 to the European Commission for EU co-financing under the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) of a programme of labour market activation measures in support of 424 workers made redundant at the Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland plant in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin and a number of ancillary enterprises. All 424 workers are...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 32 - Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I cannot repeat or stress often enough that innovation is at the heart of competitive advantage. If one looks at the companies that are engaged in innovation and research and development, the case is proven by the increase in exports and the creation of more jobs. Consecutive governments in the past 15 years have enjoyed success. Our aim is to continue to build on that. We invest...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 32 - Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The programme for research in third level institutions is coming to a natural end. The funding comes in blocks. The current block is nearly running out. Fewer than 18 projects are being finalised. Expenditure on students and PhDs is now regarded as capital expenditure as a result of a change in the accountancy rules. The programme in question is winding down naturally. Investment in...

Select Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 32 - Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (Revised) (17 Feb 2015)

Damien English: In terms of personnel, the main aim is to get more collaborations. It will follow the 14 prioritisation areas we have identified. These are key areas for Ireland to build excellence in. The aim would be to have another 1,000 collaborations with industry and new industry over the year ahead through the various agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland and IDA...