Results 5,441-5,460 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

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...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and I thank the Senator for raising it. As she is aware, officials from my Department have been working closely with South Dublin County Council officials in relation to securing a suitable site to facilitate the delivery of permanent school accommodation for Gaelscoil Chnoc...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I do not have a timeframe for the Senator, but at this stage everyone recognises that it is urgent. The Senator spoke of 15 years, but South Dublin County Council approved the disposal of the site in 2007, which is now seven or eight years ago. Subsequently, issues arose regarding the title and ownership. From the perspective of the Department of Education and Skills, it is not possible to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: Again, I will answer on behalf of my colleague, the Minister, who could not make it to the House today and who sends her apologies. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It is an important issue and one that many of us have seen in our own areas. The current policy of my Department in relation to school amalgamations involving DEIS and non-DEIS schools is that where such an...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Amalgamation (29 Apr 2015)

Damien English: If the Senator gives me the details, I will pass them on to the Minister.I know there are specific issues relating to one school and we can get them looked at. The policy must be used equally throughout the country. If any area is missing out on anything, we can get it looked at.

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

Damien English: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as I welcome the opportunity to explain the position with regard to how new schools are planned and to address the issue of the Glencullen catchment area which the Senator wants to be part of the school feeder area for the proposed new Educate Together post-primary school in Stepaside. First, the school to which the Senator refers is not being...

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

Damien English: Yes. A school is planned to open in September 2016. People can apply to go any school but our duty is to make sure there is school of choice in their area. When patrons apply to build and run that school, they must then agree to certain criteria. Under those criteria, patrons must commit to enrolling pupils from the geographical areas for whom the school is intended. There are two...

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...