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

Damien English: It would have been nice to have fitted it in this year. I know this committee has had an active role in pursuing the matter. I think the Government has made the right decision in this area. We will have a local division of that as well. I think that has satisfied most of the concerns that were expressed at this committee over the years. The referendum has to be passed by the third...

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

Damien English: It makes life easier.

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 wish to add to the comments of Deputy Conaghan. It seems more jobs are becoming available as well. There is an issue now in respect of ensuring we have the skills to fill all the jobs being created, now and in the months and years ahead. Under the Action Plan for Jobs, one of the indicators of performance is the national talent drive. This involves making sure we have a good deal of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland Funding (18 Feb 2015)

Damien English: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national agency for funding excellent and impactful research and promoting the role of science, technology, engineering and maths in Ireland. Along with supporting competitive research in Ireland’s higher education institutions, SFI leverages industry partnerships and helps Irish researchers to access EU funding streams to ensure that Ireland...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Damien English: First, I relay the apologies of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. While she had hoped to be present, the Deputy will appreciate that, on foot of the change of times, the debate clashed with something else and she is unable to be present. Consequently, I will make this statement on her behalf. I reiterate that she is sorry not to be present because this is an...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I will bring all these issues to the Minister’s attention. Every Member wants to see this whole area changed. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has put forward recommendations for a new allocation model that will ensure resources will be allocated based on children’s needs and their level of need, not their category of disability. That is what the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Feb 2015)

Damien English: My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. A range of placement options for children with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all children can receive a school placement. Many children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Damien English: School transport arrangements under the Central/Closed School Rule originated from the last major amalgamation of schools in the late 1960's. Given the time lapse it is not feasible to provide copies of agreements, where they exist, reached between the Department and the School Authorities at the time of amalgamation. In any event, changes to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staffing (25 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position regarding the career break scheme for special needs assistants in recognised primary and post-primary schools.Special needs assistants, SNAs, are recruited specifically to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staffing (25 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I will certainly examine the details to determine whether there is any advice that my Department can give. The Senator will appreciate that I do not know the case, but the logic is that one should not take a career break from the public sector to fill another position in the public sector. I am not sure if this is exactly what is at issue in the Senator's client's case, but that is how it seems.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Special Educational Needs Staffing (25 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The scheme is right. It would not make much sense to fill a job in the public sector while on career break and holding the other job. Perhaps there is more in the story, as I am not familiar with it. By all means, I would love to see the details and go through the case. If we can give any advice or direction, we will do so.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1:In page 4, line 20, to delete "granting the university authorisation" and substitute "subject to subsection (6), granting the university authorisation". As Deputies will be aware, the purpose of sections 2 to 5, inclusive, is to provide for the authorisation by the Minister of the use of the description of "university" by a high quality education provider for specified...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 2:In page 4, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:"(6) The Minister may, at the time of granting a university authorisation to an education provider, by notice in writing to that provider, impose such conditions (if any) as he or she considers appropriate in relation to the use by that provider of that university authorisation. (7) An education provider shall...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 3:In page 4, to delete lines 37 to 39 and substitute the following:"(8) An education provider may appeal against--(a) the imposition of one or more conditions imposed under subsection (6), or (b) a refusal to grant university authorisation to the provider under subsection (5)(b),within 30 days of the service of the notice under subsection (6) or subsection (7) as the...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 4:In page 5, to delete lines 23 to 37 and substitute the following:"(3) An tÚdarás may at any time review an authorised provider to ensure that the provider is--(a) not describing itself, or causing itself to be described, as a university in the State or for a purpose other than a specified purpose, and (b) complying with any conditions imposed under section...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I agree with the Deputy in that schools need to be accountable to parents and we need greater levels of communication, engagement and transparency in how schools serve their communities. I understand what the Deputy is trying to achieve with his amendments, but we have concerns about how they would operate administratively as drafted. With 4,000 schools in the system, a centralised analysis...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: The Minister has spoken on this matter a few times and is aware of it. She has also discussed it with the Deputy. She wants to work on it and to bring more communication, engagement and transparency to it in order that everyone is treated fairly. There will be opportunities to deal with this important issue in the charter and the upcoming Bill, and the Minister wants to stress that she is...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I appreciate the concerns informing the Deputy's amendment. We have discussed this issue in the Dáil a couple of times during Question Time and so on. The amendment relates mainly to cases in which students may need to be assessed independently of their parents' income. The Minister has spoken on this issue once or twice and I have taken a debate on it on her behalf. She has stated...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: I understand what the Deputy is saying and know that his concerns are genuine. The view of the Department, however, is that there is enough scope in the legislation, as it stands, to deal with the issue. The Minister has the authority to work on it and already indicated in the Dáil that she is prepared to do so.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (26 Feb 2015)

Damien English: With respect, she has only been in office for a couple of months. There is no problem in that regard. Our main concern with the amendment is that it is very broad. We are dealing with taxpayers' money and must make sure it is spent correctly on those who genuinely need it. Our concern with the amendment is that might have unintended consequences. It could lead to situations where...