Results 6,081-6,100 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Changes to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme. The changes announced covered the uniform application of the distance eligibility criterion, the cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule (CSR),...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Changes to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme. The changes announced covered the uniform application of the distance eligibility criterion, the cessation of the Closed/Central School Rule...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Given the increase in the School Transport Section workload at the commencement of a new school year combined with the routine administrative work in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not feasible to deal with the increased volume of representations in a more timely manner. In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, I can advise that under the terms...

Seanad: Innovation 2020: Statements (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I welcome the opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on Innovation 2020, Ireland's new strategy for research and development, science and technology. Innovation 2020 is based on a shared vision of Ireland becoming a global innovation leader, driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society. Its launch was the culmination of a year-long process of collaboration and consultation...

Seanad: Innovation 2020: Statements (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I will try to get through all the questions. I thank the Senators for their support for and recognition of the importance of Innovation 2020 and the science strategy. This House certainly understands the importance of investing in research and development. This is taxpayers' money and we have a duty to invest it properly. We have had this discussion before about following the money and...

Seanad: Innovation 2020: Statements (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Correct. However, they do not know what is out there. They are not really aware, but that is our job. We all need to encourage awareness, be it through the science strategy or the work with SFI and the discover science programmes. We need to get the message out there and open their minds to it. That is what we are trying to do here. There is a report on the desk of the Minister, Deputy...

Seanad: Innovation 2020: Statements (13 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I have a few items that I will come back to individually. The Senator asked the reason we look at Denmark, Sweden and Israel. It is because they are comparative countries. They are investing heavily in research and development and they are driving innovation. They are countries with which we are competing and we have to match them and be ahead of them. They are already well on the road...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (14 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on behalf of my Department, has confirmed that from a safety perspective turning buses at the school in question cannot be recommended. To serve this school some buses would have to use a junction which has been deemed unsafe for this purpose because buses would have to make a left-hand turn and in doing so the bus would be obliged...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (19 Jan 2016)

Damien English: The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's Post Primary School Transport Scheme. The closing date for receipt of payments for school transport was 31st July 2015. Bus Éireann has advised that payment details for this child were only submitted in September 2015 and at that time the service was operating to capacity. They have...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Designation (20 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The school referred to by him is a new school which was established in September 2011 on foot of an amalgamation agreed to by the patrons of two existing post-primary schools, one DEIS school and one non-DElS school. I was not familiar with the issue before today, but it is something I will discuss with our colleague, the Minister, Deputy Jan...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Designation (20 Jan 2016)

Damien English: The Deputy has stated again that assurances were given. I am led to believe by my officials that that is not the case. They are and have been very clear in the replies to parliamentary questions and on other occasions too that assurances were not given because it was not in their gift to give them. They are very clear on that point and they are usually right on these things. They are also...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Designation (20 Jan 2016)

Damien English: The Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, was stuck in traffic, but he has now landed. He will be here. He wants to take the Topical Issue himself.

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Designation (20 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Yes, I am. I know that the Minister of State, Deputy Paudie Coffey, wants to take the issue to be raised by Deputy Gerry Adams. There was a bad crash on the road and we were all caught, but the Minister of State should be here in the next two minutes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (20 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs, children are eligible for transport where they are attending the nearest recognised school that is or can be resourced to meet their special educational needs. My Department has no record of a school transport application for the child in question. In this regard, the family should liaise...

Order of Business (26 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I did not think the Deputy read reports.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (26 Jan 2016)

Damien English: Changes to my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme were announced in December 2010 by the then Government as part of measures contained in Budget 2011 and derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money review of the scheme. Children who had an eligibility for school transport prior to the introduction of the changes retained this eligibility for the duration of their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (26 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I wish to advise the Deputy that the well-being and safety of children should be at the centre of all policy and practices in schools. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school and is required to prepare a code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. Schools may seek advice from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (26 Jan 2016)

Damien English: The employment of escorts to accompany children who are eligible for school transport and whose care and safety needs are such as to require the support of an escort is a matter for the relevant school authority. My Department allocates funding to schools for the employment of these escorts. The payment of redundancy or retirement gratuities is a matter for the school authority in the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (26 Jan 2016)

Damien English: The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport under the terms of my Department's School Transport Scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs. Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and endeavours, within available resources, to ensure that each eligible child has a reasonable level of school transport...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (27 Jan 2016)

Damien English: 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 km from and are attending their nearest education centre/school as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Distance eligibility is determined by Bus Éireann by measuring the shortest traversable route...