Results 6,101-6,120 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (27 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...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I wish to deal with a couple of issues. Colleagues are correct that some of them were dealt with already by the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, yesterday and probably on Tuesday and on Committee Stage. Deputy Buttimer might not have been present for the full debate so I will clarify the position for him. The TUI has consistently sought a full process of consultation in regard to the...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: To respond to some of the comments made by the Deputies, particularly with regard to reform of the junior certificate examination, engagement and consultation do not mean solving everyone's problem or ensuring all stakeholders get everything they want. There was significant engagement and discussion with all stakeholders in recent years on junior certificate reform. The majority of them...

Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis: Statements (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Deputies for their statements on the final report of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis. The report was published yesterday after tremendous effort on the part of the committee. There was much hard work over the last year and in the period before that. The significance of this undertaking should not be underestimated. The hard-working commitment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (28 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. In this regard, the family should liaise with the school authorities and the Special Educational Needs Organiser.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister for Health, who regrets that he is unavailable to address the issue today. The Minister is aware that access to potentially beneficial drug treatments is an important issue for people with MS and that MS sufferers and their families face enormous day-to-day challenges in dealing with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: My understanding is the matter remains under consideration by the HSE and the report from the NCPE has helped in the decision-making process and helping to inform further engagement between the HSE and the supplier on the pricing of the product. It is down to price and effectiveness, as people recognise the benefits. My reading is that this is ongoing so the issue is up for discussion. I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Search and Rescue Service (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, as he could not be here. He sends his apologies. I thank the Senator for raising this matter on the issue of missing persons, which is obviously of importance to us all and to the country but also, acutely, to those who have lost loved ones in this way. The Senator has correctly referred to the great work done...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Search and Rescue Service (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I have outlined the resources that are available in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the main category is mountain rescue and the CRBI. It may be worthwhile for the Senator's group to consult the CRBI to see whether it would come under the remit of the CRBI. As a Deputy operating in the Meath region, I can confirm that I have worked very closely with Leader and Meath...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates Impact (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, I thank the Senator for raising this important issue. I should point out that the ministerial responsibility for the Valuation Office has been transferred to the Minister for Justice and Equality, with effect from 1 January 2016. I might also explain that the issue of local authority commercial rates comes...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Commercial Rates Impact (28 Jan 2016)

Damien English: I will go through it again. In addition to the exemption of those that provide child care and early education on a not-for-profit basis, the Valuation Office's interpretation of paragraph 10 of Schedule 4 to the Valuation Act 2001 means that those that only provide the early childhood care and education scheme are also exempt from rates. The vast majority of occupiers will qualify for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (2 Feb 2016)

Damien English: I am advised by Bus Éireann that the Freight Transport Association (FTA) provides independent vehicle and maintenance system audits on contractors' vehicles as well as on Bus Éireann's own fleet. This is independent and separate from any other engagement of the FTA by bus and coach operators, or indeed any other similar industry experts. Any initiative taken by bus operators...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Feb 2016)

Damien English: An application was submitted to my Department by Louth Meath Education and Training Board on 25 January 2016 for a major refurbishment and extension project at O'Fiaich College, Dundalk, to include provision for existing and future PLC needs. This submission will be assessed by officials in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Data (2 Feb 2016)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. Bus Éireann has advised that the level of detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the number of new applications for school transport received for the three years in question was in the region of 2/3,000 for primary schools and 6/7,000 for post primary schools. Children who are already availing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (2 Feb 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. The child referred to by the Deputy is eligible for school transport and my Department, in accordance with the terms of the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Feb 2016)

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am sorry for keeping her waiting. I could not make it here before 2.45 p.m. I thought I was due to respond to the third Commencement matter. I apologise for the problems that were caused. As the Senator is aware, officials from my Department have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council to secure a suitable site to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Feb 2016)

Damien English: An official in the Department of Education and Skills will work with council officials. That person cannot instruct them on what to do or demand that they do something. Rather, that official can work with them and ask them to proceed as quickly as possible. I ask the Senator to use her good offices and those of her council colleagues to try to put any pressure that is needed on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Globalisation Fund (3 Feb 2016)

Damien English: I am aware of recent media reports regarding the appointment of a provisional liquidator to Xtra-vision, which employs over 550 staff This follows an earlier statutory collective redundancy notification submitted by the company to my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in November 2015, which related to approximately 161 proposed redundancies, the majority of which...

Housing and Homelessness: Statements (22 Mar 2016)

Damien English: I am grateful for the opportunity to say a few words in the debate. I did not get a chance to listen to all speakers, but in terms of process, the idea today was to have statements and put forth everyone's ideas as a contribution to the debate. The Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, has been working hard in this area for the past couple of years and has managed, with the help of the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (22 Mar 2016)

Damien English: The accounting rules governing Bus Éireann's operation of the Scheme are laid down in the 1975 Summary of Accounting Arrangements. These Arrangements require Bus Éireann to charge my Department for all direct costs- contractors, fuel, maintenance etc. In line with the Accounting Arrangements, a charge of 13% of certain direct costs is levied to cover all other costs associated with...