I propose to take Questions Nos. 706 and 732 together.
The information which the Deputy requested is set out in tabular form. The Deputy will be aware that the One Person One Salary policy introduced by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform provides that serving public sector employees are not eligible to receive remuneration in relation to their membership of boards of State bodies. The Deputy will also be aware that non-public sector board members may choose to voluntarily waive their fees as a matter of personal choice in recognition of the current difficult economic circumstances. Both of these policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have been brought to the attention of the bodies under the aegis of my Department. The payment of board members’ expenses is an operational matter for each State body. In the case of Commercial State Bodies, any fees payable are not funded by the Exchequer.
In the case of public bodies established by Statute, the maximum, and sometimes minimum, number of persons that may be appointed to the Board is generally set out in the relevant legislation. I have set out in the table below the maximum number of persons that could be appointed to these bodies together with the fee level that may be paid in each case.
Body/Regulator
|
Number of Members
|
Board Fee Applicable
|
Fee if there was a 25% reduction
|
An Post
|
15
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
Category 1
Chair: €23,625
Director:
€11,812.50
|
Bord Gáis Éireann
|
9
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
Category 1
Chair: €23,625
Director:
€11,812.50
|
Bord na Móna
|
12
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
Category 2
Chair: €16,200
Director: €9,450
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
|
9
|
Category 4
Chair: €8,978
Director: €5,985
|
Category 4
Chair: €6,733.50
Director: €4,488.75
|
Digital Hub Development Authority
|
**14
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
Category 3
Chair: €8,977.50
Director: €5,771.25
|
EirGrid
|
10
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
Category 2
Chair: €16,200
Director: €9,450
|
ESB
|
12
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
Category 1
Chair: €23,625
Director:
€11,812.50
|
Body/Regulator
|
Number of Members
|
Board Fee Applicable
|
Fee if there was a 25% reduction
|
Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency)
|
12
|
*Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
Category 3
Chair: €8,977.50
Director: €5,771.25
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland
|
10
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
Category 3
Chair: €8,977.50
Director: €5,771.25
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd
|
**5
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
Category 2
Chair: €16,200
Director: €9,450
|
Mining Board
|
3
|
Fees per day/sitting
|
Fees per day/sitting
|
National Oil Reserves Agency
|
**6
|
Category 4
Chair: €8,978
Director: €5,985
|
Category 4
Chair: €6,733.50
Director: €4,488.75
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland
|
10
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
Category 3
Chair: €8,977.50
Director: €5,771.25
|
RTÉ
|
12
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
Category 1
Chair: €23,625
Director:
€11,812.50
|
TG4
|
12
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
Category 2
Chair: €16,200
Director: €9,450
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
|
**12
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
Category 3
Chair: €8,977.50
Director: €5,771.25
|
*The Irish Exchequer pays half of the cost of Loughs Agency board fees
** Staff in my Department are on the Board and no fee is applicable to them.