Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1248. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of the boards, bodies or committees under the remit of her Department where there is currently a vacancy to be filled by ministerial appointment; if so, if the vacancy relates to the chairperson or an ordinary member or members, specifying the number of vacancies in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37503/13]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO). With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office which does not have a board, I am responsible for all board of management appointments.
There are currently no vacancies to be filled on the board for the Children Detention Schools. In relation to the National Educational Welfare Board there is currently one vacancy for an ordinary board member to be filled. For the board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, there is currently one vacancy for an ordinary board member which remains to be filled. The board of the Family Support Agency currently has vacancies for eleven ordinary board members which also remain to be filled. I am currently in the process of making the necessary appointments to this board. Pending the legal establishment of the Child and Family Agency (CFA), the newly appointed board of the FSA will, in addition to its existing functions, provide oversight and direction to the organisational preparations which are underway for the CFA.
