Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 March 2015
199. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, of State bodies, of semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and his plans to make savings from this area. [12553/15]
View answer200. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Communications; Energy and Natural Resources the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, of State bodies, of Semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the pay-out to these non-executive directors including fees, travel and other expenditure; and his plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors. [12603/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together.
There are 18 State Bodies, including Regulatory Authorities, under the aegis of my Department, the majority of which are not funded directly by the taxpayer as they are either commercial semi-State companies or are funded by industry levies. Some bodies also generate their own revenue in addition to being funded by the Exchequer. I am, however, including details of all bodies in the reply, for completeness.
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, which includes a Chairperson in each case, together with the upper fee level that may be paid in each case.
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. Non-public sector board members may choose to voluntarily waive their fees as a matter of personal choice. 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. Consequently, the remuneration details in the table below refer to fees that may be payable and are not indicative of fees actually being received by board members. The payment of board members' fees and expenses is an operational matter for each State body. The relevant annual reports and accounts of the individual bodies will provide the information sought.
Details of the current membership of each board under the aegis of my Department is available at http://www.egovernance.ie/.
Finally, information in relation to the average age of Chairpersons and non-executive directors is not available but I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
Category and Rates of Fees for Bodies Under the Aegis of DCENR
|
Body |
Classification |
Category |
Board fees Applicable |
|
An Post |
Commercial |
Category 1 Maximum number of members 15 |
Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Ervia |
Commercial |
Category 1 Maximum number of members 9 |
Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Bord na Móna |
Commercial |
Category 2 Maximum number of members 12 |
Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
EirGrid |
Commercial |
Category 2 Maximum number of members 10 |
Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Electricity Supply Board |
Commercial |
Category 1 Maximum number of members 12 |
Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Raidió Teilifís Éireann |
Commercial |
Category 1 Maximum number of members 12 |
Chair: €31,500 Director: €15,750 |
|
Teilifís na Gaeilge |
Commercial |
Category 2 Maximum number of members 12 |
Chair: €21,600 Director: €12,600 |
|
Body |
Classification |
Category |
Board fees Applicable |
|
Broadcasting Authority of Ireland |
Regulatory |
Category 4 Maximum number of members 9 |
Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
|
Commission for Communications Regulation |
Regulatory |
No Board – 3 Commissioners |
No Fees Applicable |
|
Commission for Energy Regulation |
Regulatory |
No Board – 3 Commissioners |
No Fees Applicable |
|
**Digital Hub Development Agency |
Non-Commercial |
Category 3 Maximum number of members 14 |
Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
Inland Fisheries Ireland |
Non-Commercial |
Category 3 Maximum number of members 10 |
Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
**Irish National Petroleum Corporation |
Non-Commercial |
Technical Board Maximum number of members 5 |
Chair: €1,200 Director: €900 |
|
Loughs Agency |
North-South Body |
*Category 3 Maximum number of members 12 |
Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
The Mining Board |
Non-Commercial |
Fees per day/sitting Maximum number of members 3 |
€545.42 per day for public and private sittings. €200.93 per full day for any necessary attendance (other than sittings) in discharge of the Boards business. |
|
**National Oil Reserves Agency |
Non-Commercial |
Category 4 Maximum number of members 6 |
Chair: €8,978 Director: €5,985 |
|
Ordnance Survey Ireland |
Non-Commercial |
Category 3 Maximum number of members 10 |
Chair: €11,970 Director: €7,695 |
|
**Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland |
Non-Commercial |
Category 3 Maximum number of members 12 |
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
