I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 245 together.
There are currently 19 vacancies on the Boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department and since 6 May 2016 there have been 26 appointments made. All of the appointments were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards which were published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in November 2014. 7 appointments were made in accordance with the PAS process outlined in the Guidelines and the remaining appointments were re-appointments, ex-officio and elected employee representatives and therefore not subject to that process.
In respect of the current vacancies, arrangements are in hand to fill these through the PAS process where appropriate and it is expected that appointments will be made in the coming months on completion of that process. 6 of the vacancies relate to the Digital Hub Development Agency and in light of that body’s merger with Dublin City Council it is not proposed to fill all these positions. The legislation underpinning appointments to the Board of TG4 provides that casual vacancies can only be filled for the unexpired term in question. Consequently, the current vacancy on that Board could only be filled up to end April 2017. At the request of the Chairperson I have agreed that this vacancy will be carried and an appointment made for a full term next year.