Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 March 2013
184. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total cost to the taxpayer of paying the aggregate fees, salaries and any other remuneration to directors of all State bodies, to include majority State owned banks, all public interest directors, all semi-State bodies, all State agencies and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15403/13]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to members of boards of the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. The total cost of all applicable fees for the bodies funded by my Department's Vote Group for the most recent full year for which figures are available - 2012 - is approximately €468,000.
I am working to reduce this figure and, in this context, have taken a number of actions including the introduction of a significant reform to end the payment of fees for all organisations under the aegis of my Department which were comprehended by the Government's Public Service Reform Plan. Arising from the Government decision of October 31st last, fees for membership of boards, committees and advisory councils at these organisations - where they previously applied - will not apply in the future and members will serve pro bono. Whilst legislative change will be required to implement this decision in a number of cases, I have written to all organisations to ask them to implement this decision on an administrative basis pending statutory implementation. In addition, from January 2013 there has also been a reduction of 100% in fees for membership of the Irish Film Board.
The Deputy should note that the figure above does not include the cost of fees applicable to board members in two bodies, Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency, operating under the aegis of the North South Ministerial Council where the total cost of funding the bodies is shared with the Northern Ireland Executive. In the case of Foras na Gaeilge, 75% is paid by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and 25% is paid by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. In the case of the Ulster-Scots Agency, 25% is paid by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and 75% is paid by the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland.
