Results 5,461-5,480 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I am taking this Commencement matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, Minister for Education and Skills. I wish to thank the Senator for raising the matter as it provides me with the opportunity to clarify the current position relating to the application for a new school building in the case of Scoil Naomh Éanna, Bullaun, Loughrea, County Galway. The Senator will be...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The Department recognises that, due to increased numbers at the school in the past seven or eight years, the accommodation is not suitable, and this is why it has been allowed to progress to the architectural planning stage and to continue to the planning stage. The figures to which I referred were for the future. During the tight budget constraints of the past three or four years, any...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I would not chance it with Terry.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes (28 Apr 2015)

Damien English: My Department funds Further Education and Training Courses through SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority. These courses are delivered locally by the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). The ETBs are responsible for the organisation of courses including meeting and adhering to the award validation requirements for courses. The Department understands that an issue arose with...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Facilities Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I thank Senator Darragh O'Brien for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the Seanad the progress on providing sports facilities at Balbriggan community college. The sports hall proposal submitted is a joint undertaking between Fingal County Council and Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB, with the site to be provided by the ETB and funding to be provided by...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Sports Facilities Provision (23 Apr 2015)

Damien English: As a colleague in the neighbouring constituency, I am aware of the need for these facilities in the Balbriggan area and the property required. It is a shame that the previous facility was demolished and that there that has been such a long gap in the provision of new facilities. I do not know the history, but I will stress again the urgency of the matter to the officials who are prepared to...

Self-Employed and the SME Sector: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: We have done it.

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I would like to respond to a couple of the points made. As the Minister, Deputy Bruton, previously arranged a meeting of all those involved, I am sure there will be no problem in organising another such meeting. The Minister has a good track record in this regard and is willing to engage in constructive debate rather than the type of showmanship that is going on here today.

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: In regard to Deputy McGrath's question as to whether the Minister is aware of all the issues, the Minister is, of course, well aware of them, and for two reasons.

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: First, he is the Minister with responsibility for jobs, and second, as a TD, he is very interested in local issues. The Minister has met with management of the company and all of the agencies involved and, as such, he is aware of all of the issues. The issue of a meeting with the workers was raised. An invitation for such a meeting has been issued. There appears to be an issue around...

Topical Issue Debate: Job Losses (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. The Minister sends his apologies that he is unavailable to take this Topical Issue. He is currently leading a trade mission in the Gulf and India to grow the export markets of Irish companies and ultimately create jobs in Ireland so it was not possible for him to be here with the notice given of this debate. I am very conscious of the anxiety...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I am familiar with the case and have answered parliamentary questions on this before. The Deputy keeps saying it is unfair. The scheme, the system and the policy have to be fair and equitable throughout the country. The same rules are applied across the board. Bus Éireann operates on behalf of the Department and has measured this route and has picked the shortest route. That is the...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: We have to be very clear. There has to be a policy and a decision-making mechanism that is fair throughout the country, so that everybody is treated equally. The Deputy wants to blame us. I was trying to point out to him that the policy change was brought in by the previous Government in budget 2011.

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The policy change is the right one and is based on the nearest school. The old system meant people had a choice and we had buses traversing all over the countryside. There is a logic to this. The cost of providing school transport goes up every year. It is very expensive and we are trying to manage this as fairly and equitably as we can on behalf of the taxpayers. A previous Government...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: While it is the prerogative of parents to send their children to the school of their choice, eligibility for school transport is determined by the nearest school, having regard to ethos, language and special needs. From the outset of the scheme, the measurement of the shortest traversable route from a child's home to the relevant education centre has been used to determine whether a child...

Other Questions: School Transport Eligibility (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The appeals board uses the criteria that have been set out. It is necessary to have a system.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (22 Apr 2015)

Damien English: Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes and for the designation of pick-up and set-down points. In this regard, Bus Éireann has confirmed that they received a request regarding an extension to the existing service and they will contact the family in question shortly.

Self-Employed and the SME Sector: Motion [Private Members] (21 Apr 2015)

Damien English: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:“acknowledges:— the central role of the self-employed and micro, small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in the jobs recovery, which have generated the majority of the 90,000 extra jobs, with particularly strong performance by enterprises supported by Enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (21 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 the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann which operates the School Transport Scheme has advised that the child...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (21 Apr 2015)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that under the terms of my Department's School Transport Schemes, children are eligible for school transport when they meet the relevant distance criteria and are attending their nearest school, having regard to ethos and language; the terms are applied equitably on a national basis. I can confirm that Bus Éireann, which operates the School Transport Scheme on...