My Departmental remit includes complex policy areas and oversight of State regulation and provision of key strategic services such as energy and public broadcasting. In this context, the number of Commercial State Bodies and Non-Commercial State Bodies, including Regulators, currently under the aegis of my Department, is 18. 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 upper fee level that may be paid in each case. I have in all instances brought to the attention of each body the policy initiatives of the Department of Public Expenditure in relation to the payment of Board fees, and 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. I have not established any new State bodies since taking office in March 2011.
The Government, on completion of a wide ranging review of State Bodies, published its decision on the rationalisation of such Bodies in Novembers, 2012. In relation to my Department, this provided that Ordnance Survey Ireland will be merged with the Property Registration Office and the Valuation Office which will, in time, see it transfer to the Department of Justice and Equality. The Digital Hub Development Agency will also be merged (initially on an administrative basis) with Dublin City Council (DCC) pending enactment of legislation.
There is also provision for certain back-office administrative functions of the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) to be merged with the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI).
|
Body/
Regulator
|
Number
of Members
|
Board Fee Applicable
|
|
An Post
|
15
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
|
Bord Gáis Éireann
|
9
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
|
Bord na Móna
|
12
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
|
9
|
Category 4
Chair: €8,978
Director: €5,985
|
|
Digital Hub Development Authority
|
**14
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
|
EirGrid
|
10
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
|
ESB
|
12
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
|
Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency)
|
12
|
*Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland
|
10
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
|
Irish National Petroleum Corporation Ltd
|
**5
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
|
Mining Board
|
3
|
Fees per day/sitting
|
|
National Oil Reserves Agency
|
**6
|
Category 4
Chair: €8,978
Director: €5,985
|
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland
|
10
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
|
RTÉ
|
12
|
Category 1
Chair: €31,500
Director: €15,750
|
|
TG4
|
12
|
Category 2
Chair: €21,600
Director: €12,600
|
|
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
|
**12
|
Category 3
Chair: €11,970
Director: €7,695
|
*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
