Results 5,941-5,960 of 11,114 for speaker:Damien English

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (17 Sep 2014)

Damien English: Children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: I appreciate the time to be here and to work through the issues. We will try to build on the working relationship. There has been quite a good relationship between the Department and the committee when working on these issues. The briefing has always been quite good as well. I hope we can keep that going and try to work out solutions and ideas as we go along.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: I dealt with that question in a speech I delivered recently and will provide the Senator with a copy. To the best of my memory, there have been 1,028 high-potential start-ups since 2000. The target for this year is 95 and we have reached 50 so far. We expect to reach the target by year end. It has been quite successful in that respect. The Minister referred to something which I said...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: The recovery has meant that there is greater interest in research and development in industry. There will be more money available through companies seeking to match State funding in this area. A lot of the money spent on research, particularly through SFI, attracts matching private funding. That is the key - to stretch taxpayers' money as much as possible. There is definitely an increased...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: Yes, definitely. There are always calls for more centres. We are prioritising and trying to focus our spending. SFI is working through seven centres at the moment and hopes to make announcements on additional centres in the future. It is trying to target its resources carefully. Members of this committee visited the Tyndall National Institute research centre and saw the great bang we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: That is a good question and one which I would have asked myself. We do not have a figure for number of jobs created but if one looks at the companies who are availing of the tax credits one sees that they have been very successful in winning export markets and creating employment. Basically, the companies who are availing of the credits are performing better. That, for me, is a fairly good...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: We could do a visit as well. The key is to see how the negotiations go and how the projects fits into the criteria that have set out. There is scope to be able to do it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: There is a concern that all the research funding is being directed towards commercialisation. I can confirm that the same amount of money will be spent on basic research. We are not turning away from that; it is needed. We are asking all the players in this area to show the impact of their basic research into the future. We are trying to ensure greater use of taxpayers' money and that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: Deputy Lawlor raised a point and he is right. Nearly every business that one visits - it certainly applies to those I have visited in recent months since I took up this role - has a need for certain skills and can create jobs. What is important is that through the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Department of Education and Skills we respond to this and ensure that we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: I congratulate the Chairman on her new role. As the change happened very fast, I thank my colleagues for the work done by this committee over the past couple of years. I thank the clerk and the committee team for the excellent service. We had a very businesslike committee which worked very well. I think the Chairman will find that as well. There is plenty of ground to cover. I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Review of Vote 32: Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (16 Sep 2014)

Damien English: It is a change.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: We have been informed that there have been extensive discussions and engagement, which there should have been. The Senator has put it on record here that the opposite is the case, so I will check it out.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: People must work together to maximise resources, and the Senator's county colleagues started the process. It is important that there are discussions and the initiative is implemented correctly, thus allowing everyone to have their say. We want to bring the service back to the user, and maximising resources will help to prepare people for a job, which is key. I will check out the situation...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I could become a regular visitor here.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Boards (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: Last week I was sitting in the Gallery wondering if I would ever be here and now I am. I also thank Senator Wilson for his kind comments. I appreciate them. It will be nice to work with him on matters such as this, which affect us all. I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position on the planning for training provision in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: The School Transport Section of my Department has not received an application for school transport for the child referred to by the Deputy for the 2014/15 school year. The Deputy will be aware that children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest recognised: mainstream school, special class/special school or a unit, that is or can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Applications (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits. Bus Éireann, which operates the Primary School Transport Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (17 Jul 2014)

Damien English: The change to the minimum number requirement was one of a number of changes derived from recommendations contained in the Value for Money Review of the School Transport Scheme and introduced following a budgetary decision by the previous government. Under the terms of my Department's Primary and Post Primary School Transport Schemes a minimum of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Allowances (16 Jul 2014)

Damien English: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 71 together. The payment of an additional training allowance of €31.80 per week for the long term unemployed was introduced during a period of high employment levels as an incentive for the long term unemployed to participate in former-FÁS training courses. The payment of this allowance was later extended to those persons in receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (16 Jul 2014)

Damien English: SOLAS currently receives a small capital budget which relates to the training centre network formerly managed by FÁS and now transferred to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This funding is now allocated by SOLAS as appropriate to the relevant ETBs managing the training centres. While there is no dedicated capital budget for further education (former VEC) programmes a small...