Results 5,701-5,720 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (26 Nov 2014)

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. In relation to school transport provision, ethos relates to religious ethos and is in the...

Other Questions: Job Creation Targets (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: No. The mix-up here - it was mentioned earlier - is that key is that much of the funding delivered through our State agencies must be for export-led products. We are not in a position to grant aid companies to compete with each other on the high streets of the domestic market. The emphasis is to target money, and especially financial supports, through Enterprise Ireland, the IDA and so on...

Other Questions: Job Creation Targets (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: If the Deputy took the time to look at them she would see that information. That office is independent of Government and the figures are there, having been analysed independently. There is job creation. The Deputy might not like it but it is happening.

Other Questions: Job Creation Targets (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy is very obliging to put the two questions together. I will try to merge my two answers.

Other Questions: Job Creation Targets (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: As the Deputy knows, the target set out in the Action Plan for Jobs is to create 100,000 extra jobs by 2016. No individual targets are set, but I think the services sector would already employ about 76% of the total employment in the country. Naturally, therefore, that is a major area we will be operating in. In the manufacturing sector, there are key areas set out under food,...

Other Questions: Job Creation Targets (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: A key there is the Horizon 2020 agenda. The current research framework in Europe has a budget of €80 billion which we can draw down and target. The research community, the ecosystem, in Ireland has developed considerably in recent years and we are in a position to target about €1.25 billion of that. Quite a lot of that money will be targeted through the services industry but...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: I will have to review the website to make sure I am on it. I am very disappointed. There is a need for some research on that. I disagree with the Deputy. I found it useful over recent months to have the Forfás personnel as part of our team in the Department. On a weekly basis, one now has a chance to debate policy and work on solutions. I am highly involved with the staff on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: As the Deputy knows, the committee presents a great opportunity to discuss policy. There is no problem engaging regularly at its meetings on policy initiatives. The Deputy touched on the action plan for jobs. Forfás was driving the action plan for jobs from the start. Mr. Shanahan, who has now moved to the IDA, was a key driver of the plan when he was in Forfás. Nothing has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: In order to put Deputy Calleary's mind at ease, I wish to state that following the commencement of the Industrial Development (Forfás Dissolution) Act 2014 on 1 August 2014, Forfás's policy functions have been integrated within the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. The policy research and advisory functions of Forfás have transferred in totality to the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Innovation Vouchers Initiative (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher Initiative was established in 2007 in order to drive an on-going innovation cultural shift within small enterprise by promoting and encouraging a transfer of knowledge between Ireland’s public knowledge providers and the small business community and creating greater synergies between the two. This scheme provides small companies access to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that 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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The pupils referred to by the Deputy are not attending their nearest...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (25 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that 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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The pupil referred to by the Deputy is eligible for transport,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (20 Nov 2014)

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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. The child in question is not attending her nearest school which is less than 3.2 kilometres from her...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (20 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that 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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann has advised that the child referred to by the...

Seanad: Horizon 2020: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Seanad for the opportunity to discuss this subject. Senator Barrett outlined the main reason we should be here. We need to tease this out and discuss it a lot more. It is important and that is why I am delighted everybody involved in decision-making, be it in the Seanad, the committee or Dáil, can tease out the whole agenda pertaining to Horizon 2020. I have been asked by...

Seanad: Horizon 2020: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Senator should look at the whole framework but I understand the point he has made.

Seanad: Horizon 2020: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The president of the European Research Council was here yesterday and met with many researchers. We are trying to work on that as well. The Senator raised a good point.

Seanad: Horizon 2020: Statements (18 Nov 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to speak on this important programme for Ireland. Horizon 2020 is a very important issue and I am glad we have a chance to discuss it here in the Seanad. I have no doubt that over the couple of years of this programme we will have a chance to have further debates. We are involved in Ireland's strategy for participation in the biggest ever...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Damien English: The Deputy will be aware that changes to the School Transport Scheme have generated an increase in the number of queries and representations to my Department and when combined with the routine administrative work undertaken within my Department in relation to school transport provision generally, regrettably, it was not feasible to deal with the increased volume of representations in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (13 Nov 2014)

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 kilometres from and are attending their nearest education centre as determined by my Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. Bus Éireann is responsible for the planning and timetabling of school transport routes....