Results 5,201-5,220 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: Deputy Coppinger will probably never admit it, but this Administration has changed the system. There is a structure in place now. The structure Deputy Coppinger has called for in respect of the provision of sites is already in place at local authority level.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: That is why, in the past three or four years, we have managed to deal with the majority of demand for primary school places. The situation was at crisis point. Under the last five-year plan, which will finish next year, and new plans to come out in the months ahead, the urgency of providing places in primary education has been more or less matched and dealt with, and rightly so. We are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: The school referred to by Deputy Coppinger opened in September this year in interim accommodation, which everyone agrees is not satisfactory accommodation; that is why it is interim. Following pre-planning discussions with the relevant planning authority, my Department lodged a planning application in April this year with a view to facilitating the new school coming into operation from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: The Deputy knows well that they will not because the contract for the temporary school was signed for three years. She knows that. The site will be ready in mid-November. The contractors have been appointed and they will move from that temporary accommodation, which is not satisfactory, in mid-November as planned and agreed. The Department went to councillors in the area. The area has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: I thank the Deputy for raising these issues. I do not know the full history of the application, but the area seems to have been poorly serviced by previous Administrations. The new planning system that has been operating in my Department in recent years is correcting that. The new school will go ahead and the site has been secured. There is a delay with construction of the road, as it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: I was clear. I cannot give the Deputy anything more than the truth, which is what I did. We hope-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: What does the Deputy mean by "nothing"?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: The tender is signed for the school to be built on a phased basis.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: The Department is building a school and an access road. We are not in total control of the site for the latter. It looks like that matter will be finalised shortly. I cannot say when, as it is a legal agreement that must be finalised. Waving a magic wand to sort it out overnight is not in our gift. We are doing all that we can. It looks like the school has progressed and is on track to...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015: Second Stage (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: I was caught by surprise there. I thought there were a few more speakers. The Minister for Justice and Equality and I would like to thank Members for their contributions. As the Minister said in her opening remarks, this is a wide-ranging Bill which addresses child protection, including new emerging threats, support of victims, the updating of existing law and a reform of prostitution...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: The purpose of the building project in question is to provide a new 1,000-pupil secondary school in Tyrrelstown, which includes an all-weather playing pitch for school and community use. Planning permission has been secured and a tender process to appoint a building contractor is at an advanced stage. As the Deputy said, the project requires the construction of an access road across third...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 km from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Children who are not eligible for school transport, may apply for transport on a concessionary basis only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Oct 2015)

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. The family has advised my Department that they are not in a position to bring their daughter to and from school and Bus Éireann has been requested to establish a dedicated school transport service for this child. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised mainstream school or unit that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under Department of Education and Skills' criteria. Eligibility is determined following consultation with the National Council for Special Education through its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Tendering (6 Oct 2015)

Damien English: Bus Éireann is obliged to tender all works, goods and services in line with the European Directives on public procurement. This includes school transport services performed by contractors under the School Transport Scheme, which Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. Bus Éireann is satisfied that the tendering process is a competitive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (1 Oct 2015)

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: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs. In this case, the child in question is not attending the nearest school...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Damien English: We do not have the figures yet, because even though the closing date for payments was 31 July, quite a few people paid in August. Also, some routes are still being sorted out and some cases are still being dealt with. Deputies and Senators would be aware of this because they are raising these matters with us directly as are people involved. Therefore, we will not have the full figures for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Damien English: Those routes are not there for 2014 and 2015. Even today, some new buses are being sanctioned for new routes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Damien English: Is that in regard to 2013?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Damien English: I do not have the data.