Results 5,741-5,760 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Other Questions: EU Directives (10 Jun 2015)

Damien English: We are monitoring what is happening in other countries and I will check what is happening in the UK. We help with the training and qualifications end of this. Full-time and part-time courses are provided in all the areas affected by this directive through the ETBs and institutes of technology, as well as Skillnets which involves employers. There are many options available at the training...

Other Questions: EU Directives (10 Jun 2015)

Damien English: There are over 2,000 places for upskilling in this area through a combination of full-time and evening programmes. Some of this is subsidised. If one is unemployed, these courses are provided free by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills. In other cases, there is a charge. A course is generally 25 weeks to 28 weeks long and costs usually between...

Other Questions: EU Directives (10 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I will investigate exactly what is on offer in England compared to here to see what the different systems provide and if there is anything to improve our provision. A range of options through many courses are being provided through various arms of the State. The Deputy is correct that the cost is often borne by a combination of employers, business owners and the taxpayer. I will certainly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Appeals (10 Jun 2015)

Damien English: The issue referred to by the Deputy is subject of appeal to the School Transport Appeals Board. The School Transport Appeals Board is independent of my Department and it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in cases which are due for consideration by the Board.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (11 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 189, inclusive, together. I have referred the Deputy's questions to Bus Éireann for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Damien English: Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department, has confirmed that Buncrana post primary education centre is the nearest education centre to families residing in the Urris area. Distance eligibility for school transport is determined by measuring the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the nearest education centre. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (18 Jun 2015)

Damien English: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme, a child who is eligible for school transport but for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport within the prescribed time limits, receive a Remote Area Grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements. Bus Éireann, which operates the school transport scheme on behalf of...

Topical Issue Debate: Student Support Schemes (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. As the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, cannot be present, I am taking the debate on her behalf. I am not familiar with the case but I accept that it is a genuine case. For student grant purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances, whether as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent...

Topical Issue Debate: Student Support Schemes (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I will meet the Deputy on that issue.

Topical Issue Debate: School Relocation (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy O'Sullivan, and I apologise that she was not able to take it. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter as it gives me the opportunity to outline to the House the current position regarding the accommodation needs of Gaelscoil Phádraig, Ballybrack. The school is currently located in...

Topical Issue Debate: School Relocation (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I understand the frustration felt by Deputy Boyd Barrett and students at Gaelscoil Phádraig having been educated in a prefabricated building for four years. This type of building tends to be too hot in summer and too cold in winter and I do not blame the pupils of the school for wanting to get out of prefabs. The building project is progressing. I am not aware of any alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: Upon the commencement of section 30 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 which was commenced on 28 January 2014, those staff who were in teaching posts and were classed as Teachers when the Haddington Road Agreement came into force on 1 July 2013 were therefore liable to deliver additional hours in the form of Supervision & Substitution (S&S). For those staff who converted to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Staff (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: As advised previously the employment of staff in an ETB is a matter for the individual ETB and I have asked the ETB in question to contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (23 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together. Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department has advised that Trapeze (UK) Limited was awarded the tender for the IT system for school transport. The estimated cost of IT services which were advertised for tender was some €1.3 million of which €985,000 including VAT has been expended...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (24 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I thank Deputy McEntee for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline the current position regarding the application for a new building for Dunboyne College of Further Education, which is currently based at the business park in the town. As the Deputy is aware, Dunboyne College of Further Education was awarded stand-alone status by the Department in February 2015. It has...

Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (24 Jun 2015)

Damien English: I can confirm that I will certainly be working on it. I am happy to work with the Deputy and all our colleagues on this important issue. I want to recognise the great work that is being done at the college, which is demonstrated by the progression rate of the students who go through the post-leaving certificate courses and into further and higher education or into jobs. I understand that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Expenditure (24 Jun 2015)

Damien English: The information requested by the Deputy is regarded as commercially sensitive and cannot be released.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data (25 Jun 2015)

Damien English: The payment of an additional training allowance for the long term unemployed was reduced from €31.80 per week to €20 per week as part of Budget 2011 and as part of Budget 2014 it was decided to cease this payment for all SOLAS participants commencing courses after 1st January 2014. The cost of reinstating this long term bonus payment is estimated at €6.7 million in a...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (30 Jun 2015)

Damien English: During the 2014-15 school year Bus Éireann discovered that a number of children had been incorrectly assessed as being eligible for school transport, a matter that was discussed previously with the Deputy, and were availing of free transport because they held valid medical cards. The families were informed of this error. They were also advised by Bus Éireann that from the 2015-16...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (30 Jun 2015)

Damien English: On a point of clarification, Deputy McConalogue and many other Members from all parties raised this issue a number of months ago. At that time the Deputy made it clear the issue was one of concern about going over that gap. The Deputy sent me a video which I watched. The officials in the Department have checked it out and this application has been appealed independently of the Department...