Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
226. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of appointments to State boards since March 2011 under the aegis of her Department; the total number of appointments that have been advertised on her Department’s website; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32298/14]
View answerThe information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards since March 2011 is outlined in the following table.
The Deputy should note 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.
Vacancies on other boards of Bodies under the aegis of my Department that arise will continue to be advertised on my Department's website and at www.publicjobs.ie. 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.
|
Name of Board |
Number of appointments made to state boards since 2011 |
Number of positions advertised over whcih the Minister can directly appoint [Note1] |
Appointments made from members of the public who applied through PAS process |
|
An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) |
26 [Note 3] |
3 |
2 |
|
National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) |
12 |
1 |
0 |
|
State Examinations Commission (SEC) |
5 |
5 |
2 |
|
An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) |
3 [Note 2] |
0 |
0 |
|
An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS) |
13 |
9 |
9 |
|
Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) |
16 |
7 |
3 |
|
Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
24 |
9 |
2 |
|
Irish Research Council |
14 |
0 |
0 |
|
Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) |
|||
|
Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) |
14 |
||
|
Léargas |
12 |
9 |
0 |
|
National Council for Special Education (NCSE) |
14 |
13 |
2 |
|
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
11 |
8 |
3 |
|
Skillnets Ltd |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Teaching Council |
39 [Note 4] |
3 |
0 |
|
Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) |
12 [Note 5] |
9 |
6 [Note 5] |
|
Residential Institution Redress Board (RIRB) |
See [Note 6] |
||
|
Residential Institution Review Committee (RIRC) |
See [Note 6] |
||
|
Education Finance Board (EFB) |
See [Note 6] |
Note1: Appointments, while made by the Minister, are not in all cases made at her sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned.
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: Includes 2 replacements.
Note 5: In addition to the appointment of persons who applied to PAS a further two appointees applied directly to the Department. Following the resignation of two appointees in 2013, the consequential vacancies were filled by persons who had submitted expressions of interest to PAS (one vacancy was filled in 2013, the other in 2014). An appointee who had not submitted an expression of Interest to PAS resigned in 2014 and was replaced by a person who had not submitted an expression of interest to PAS.
Note 6: 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, and were reappointed in June 2014 until 31st December 2014 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 June 2014 is €525.
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.
