Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
706. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board, to include the chair and board members, and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34509/13]
View answer732. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual saving to the Exchequer if all State agency board fees were reduced by 25% under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35796/13]
View answerI 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.
