Damien English is a TD representing the Meath West constituency. He is Minister for Housing and Urban Renewal based at the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. He works closely with his Fine Gael colleague Minister Simon Coveney T.D. in providing political leadership on improving the supply of quality affordable homes for families, ending the homelessness crisis and regenerating communities.
He was previously Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation from 2014 to 2016, working in the Department of Education and Skills & the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This role involved developing the Government’s Science Strategy, ‘Innovation 2020’, which will keep Ireland at the forefront of R&D, drive innovation to 2025 and in the process build a pool of world class highly skilled researchers in Ireland. He was also involved in the expansion of the Apprenticeship system in Ireland and oversaw the publication of the National Skills Strategy.
An experienced member of Dáil Éireann, he is a former Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and its predecessor the Oireachtas Committee for Jobs, Social Protection and Education. Damien was first elected to Dáil Éireann for Co. Meath in 2002, becoming its youngest member, and again for Meath West in 2007, 2011 and 2016. He was a member of Meath County Council from 1999 to 2004.