Results 5,661-5,680 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: They are included in a different feeder area but a school is also being provided for them so two new schools are being provided. Glencullen is in a different school feeder area from the one highlighted by the Senator today. These feeder areas are geographical areas worked out by the Department's forward planning unit. Our aim is to respond to demographic need. Both feeder areas require a...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: We can look at the maps and if there are any specific concerns about them and geography, the Senator might contact the forward planning unit or go through the Minister and me. The feeder areas have been analysed and are based on planning requirements and demographic need. A lot of science goes into them.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: We all have issues locally with historical catchment areas but these are trying to-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I am sure-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: It might not make sense to the Senator but I am sure the science-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: It is important to say that the officials put a lot of effort and work into working out these areas. It is not like what happened in the past. Schools are planned in a very logical and scientific way and data from the census, population figures today and projected figures are used to plan those schools and arrange school feeder areas. A lot of work goes into that. It is not a case of-----

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: We are speaking here without having the details of the decision. It is possibly a local opinion.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: School Enrolments (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: There is no problem doing that but it is important to recognise that a lot of work goes into making these decisions. They are not willy-nilly decisions.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Offices (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: On behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection, I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising this issue of house calls to social welfare customers in Connemara. The Minister of State is unable to attend today, for which he apologises. He was looking forward to the opportunity to reply to Senator Ó Clochartaigh in Irish. Before I reply to the Senator, with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Welfare Offices (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I will convey that message to the Minister of State. To be clear, the statistics are currently not available. It is not a case that they do not exist but I think they could not compile the information within the timeframe. I will pass on the message to the Minister of State, Deputy Humphreys. The Senator has a very good reason for using the information which is to identify future service...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Departmental Offices (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The role of the State’s Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) is to provide the Government with independent expert advice on issues related to public science policy. The decision in 2012 to abolish the separate Office of the CSA was taken by the Government in response to the Public Sector Reform Initiative announced in November 2011. The Office of the CSA was included in the bodies for...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Centres Programme (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The Action Plan for Jobs sets out a range of measures to promote innovation, including the ongoing support and development of research in enterprises and in public research organisations across the full spectrum of research sophistication. Innovation is at the heart of building our New Economy and the transformation of the enterprise base, growing exports and to developing a competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Funding (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) is the national foundation for investment in scientific and engineering research. My department provides SFI with its annual budget and SFI, in turn, invests in academic researchers and research teams most likely to generate new knowledge, leading edge technologies and, ultimately, competitive enterprises that draw on skills in the fields of science,...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Centres Programme (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: Responsibility for the operation of research funding schemes lies primarily with Science Foundation Ireland. Enterprise Ireland implements a number of funding programmes which also support researchers. Research positions supported by SFI funded schemes: Year Number of Researchers 2014 2,792 2013 2,656 2012 2,815 2011 2,995 2010 2,999 Research positions supported by EI funded...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research Centres Programme (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 100 and 103 together. Stakeholder and public consultation is an important element of the process in the development of a successor to the Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation. Some 77 submissions in response to the consultation paper have been received including the open letter from "Irish Scientists for Basic Research". I have...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Science Foundation Ireland Remit (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The remit of Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) was amended with the enactment of the Industrial Development (Science Foundation Ireland) Act 2013 (No. 36 of 2013). The amended remit enables SFI to fund applied as well as oriented basic research in strategic areas of opportunity for the State. The Act as amended also enables SFI to: - develop and extend the capability for the carrying out of...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Research and Development Supports (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The Action Plan for Jobs accords a high priority to increasing the number of research active enterprises in Ireland, with a particular focus on SMEs. The latest available data from the CSO, which covers all sectors of the economy, is for 2011. For confidentiality reasons the companies in the CSO data are grouped into small enterprises (less than 50 employees) and medium/large (50+ employees)...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Horizon 2020 Strategy Implementation (30 Apr 2015)

Damien English: In December 2013, the Government approved a national strategy for participation in Horizon 2020 together with an ambitious target of €1.25 billion in funding to Ireland over the lifetime of Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (2014-2020). The strategy sets out a comprehensive range of actions designed to maximise Ireland’s participation in the programme and achieve the target,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (30 Apr 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. As the Deputy is aware, the child in question is not attending her nearest school and is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youthreach Programme Funding (6 May 2015)

Damien English: My Department funds the Youthreach programme through SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority. The Programme is delivered locally by Education and Training Boards. The information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department as each ETB administers their own training allowance payment system. There is no requirement for learners in Youthreach to be eligible for a...