The information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards in the last three years is outlined in the following table.
It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.
The Deputy should further note that in making any direct Ministerial appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but will ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant skills and competencies for the positions.
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Name of Board
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Number of appointments made to state boards since 2011
|
Number of positions advertised over which the Minister can directly appoint
|
Appointments made from members of the public who applied through the PAS process
|
Remuneration for Chairperson and for Board Members [Note 1]
|
Year appointments made
|
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG)
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
None
|
2012
|
|
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS)
|
3 [Note 2]
|
0
|
0
|
€20,520 (Chairperson); €11,970 (ordinary member)
|
2011/2013
|
|
Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA)
|
15
|
7
|
3
|
€8,978 (Chairperson); No remuneration for ordinary members
|
2012
|
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA)
|
10
|
9
|
2
|
€11,970 (Chairperson); €7,695 (ordinary member)
|
2012
|
|
Irish Research Council
|
14
|
0
|
0
|
None
|
2012
|
|
Léargas
|
12
|
9
|
0
|
None
|
2012/2013
|
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE)
|
12
|
1
|
0
|
None
|
2013
|
|
National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA)
|
26 [Note 3]
|
3
|
2
|
None
|
2012 (25) and 2013 (1)
|
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE)
|
14
|
13
|
2
|
None
|
2013
|
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
|
10
|
8
|
3
|
None
|
2012
|
|
Skillnets Ltd
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
€8,978 (Chairperson); €5,985 (ordinary member)
|
2011/2012
|
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC)
|
5
|
5
|
2
|
None
|
2012
|
|
Teaching Council
|
37
|
3
|
0
|
None
|
2012
|
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS)
|
13
|
9
|
9
|
None
|
2013
|
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF)
|
10 [Note 4]
|
9
|
4 [Note 4]
|
None
|
2013
|
|
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB)
|
See [Note 5]
|
|
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC)
|
See [Note 5]
|
|
Education Finance Board (EFB)
|
See [Note 5]
|
Note 1: Public servants who sit on State boards or who may be nominated to such boards independently of their public service employment are not paid remuneration in the form of board fees
Note 2: Two interim appointments were made to the Board of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) in January 2013 pending the dissolution of the body in October 2013. Accordingly, these vacancies were not published on PAS. Appointments to the Board of FÁS were made following consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Note 3: The 25 member NCCA was appointed in 2012 with one resignee being replaced in November 2013.
Note 4: Following the resignation of an appointee, the consequential vacancy was filled by a person who had submitted an expression of interest to PAS. A further two appointees applied directly to the Department.
Note 5: The existing members of the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) and the Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) were re-appointed in December 2011 for a period of two years and again in December 2013 for a further period of 5 months or until such time as the bodies have completed their work, whichever is the sooner. The Chairperson of the RIRB is paid an annual salary equivalent to the President of the Circuit Court (in February 2012) subject to pension abatement while the Chairperson of the RIRC is paid an annual salary equivalent to a Supreme Court Judge subject to pension abatement. Since October 2011 the Chairperson has taken a 50% voluntary reduction in salary. The other board members of both the RIRB and the RIRC are paid a per diem rate and pension abatement applies in the case of members receiving a pension from the State. The per diem rate from 1st January 2014 is €624.
The final membership of the Education Finance Board (EFB) were appointed in February 2012 for a one year term or until the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) was established whichever was the earlier. The RISF was established and the EFB dissolved in March 2013. The 9 member Board consisted of a Chairperson, four former residents of institutions and four ordinary members. The views of survivor groups and other interested parties were sought on appointments of former resident members of the Board. The members were not remunerated.
