I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 123 together.
Details in relation to the membership of State Boards including the dates of appointment and mechanisms of appointment of members under the aegis of my Department are available on the Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/corporate/transparency-data/appointments-state-boards/appointments-declg-state-boards.
The following table details the current vacancies on these Boards:
BOARD
|
NO. OF VACANCIES
|
CURRENT POSITION
|
Housing Finance Agency
|
2 Members
|
The Board is to be replaced by end of 2016 and vacancies are currently advertised on the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website with a closing date of 25 November 2016.
|
Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency
|
1 Member
|
Nominee of the County and City Management Association
|
Irish Water Safety
|
5 Members
|
Positions were advertised via the PAS on 14/10/2016 with closing date for receipt of submission of 4/11/2016. The PAS nomination process is ongoing.
|
Pobal
|
7 Members
|
The recommended candidates from the PAS process are currently under consideration.
|
All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In the case of certain appointments to State Boards, statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate. In addition, in the case of a number of Boards, not all of the appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, and in some situations appointments are made by the Minister with the consent of another Minister. Appointments to An Bord Pleanála are of a full-time executive nature and are governed by statutory processes. A “unitary board structure” is in place for Ervia and its subsidiaries, Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland. An overarching non-executive board has overall responsibility and accountability for the performance of the Ervia Group. The boards of the two principal Ervia subsidiaries, Irish Water and Gas Networks Ireland, are executive-only boards.
The Public Appointments Service portal www.stateboards.ie offers a single dedicated point of contact to all Government Departments, as a support to the existing State board appointment procedures. This service provides a mechanism for Departments to advertise board vacancies and it gives prospective candidates an opportunity to register their general interest in a position on a state Board and to be alerted to upcoming vacancies.
In general, PAS is notified six months in advance for anticipated vacancies. This allows sufficient time to publicise vacancies, arrange interviews and submit a short list of nominees.