Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015
296. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual saving to his Department and the bodies under its aegis if all the fees for all State agency, non-commercial State-sponsored bodies and commercial semi-State board members were reduced by 25%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26983/15]
View answerIt is not possible to quantify the information sought by the Deputy given the varying tax treatment of individual board members. In the case of commercial agencies, board fees are not a charge on the exchequer so there would be no saving to the Department.
In the case of the non commercial agencies, the listed fees are before tax and the net impact would depend on the tax allowances and bands of the individuals concerned. Serving public servants are generally not entitled to the payment of fees for serving on State Boards and, since January 2012, board members have been given the opportunity to waive their fees.
