Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 November 2016
266. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of vacancies on boards or agencies within her Department's remit that currently exist; the number that have been filled since 8 May 2016; the number of these that were filled through the Public Appointments Service; the timeline for filling remaining vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36642/16]
View answerI am responsible for the appointment of members to the boards of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), Gaisce (the President's Award) and the Board of Management for Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
There are currently seven vacant positions on the Gaisce Council, one vacant position on the Board of the Child and Family Agency and one vacant position on the Board of Management for Oberstown Children Detention Campus.
I am currently arranging for the seven vacant positions on the Gaisce Council to be advertised by the Public Appointments Service. The vacant position on the Board of Management for Oberstown Children Detention Campus is being progressed in line with the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act. I intend to make five appointments to the Board of the Child and Family Agency from 1 January 2017. Four of these positions that will become vacant on 1 January 2017 were advertised by the Public Appointments Service.
Since I assumed office in May this year I have made 16 appointments to Boards under my remit.
I appointed Ms Emer Egan to the Tusla Board with effect from 21 July 2016. Ms Egan was appointed following approval of Government to fill the unexpired term of office from 21 July 2016 to 31 December 2016 for the vacancy created by the previous nominee from the Department of Education and Skills.
I made 13 appointments to the new Board of Management for Oberstown Children Detention Campus with effect from 1 June 2016. The Board consists of the Chairperson and 12 Ordinary members. I appointed Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Dean of the School of Law, University College Cork as Chairperson. Professor Kilkelly is recognised as a leading expert in issues relating to the detention of children and has published widely on youth justice issues.
Of the 12 Ordinary members, the following 7 were appointed on foot of the requirements of section 167 of the Children Act 2001, as follows:
Mr Jim Gibson - interim Chief Operations Officer of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency was nominated by the Minister for Health;
Ms Fionnuala Anderson - an Education Officer in Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board was nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills;
Ms Sinead O’Herlihy and Mr Fiachra Barrett are members of staff on the Oberstown campus who were nominated for appointment on foot of a local balloting process by Oberstown staff in December 2015;
Mr Pat Rooney and Ms Elizabeth Howard are local community residents in the vicinity of the Oberstown campus and were nominated by Lusk Community Council in November 2015;
Mr Dan Kelleher is a former Principal Officer in the Irish Youth Justice Service, Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
I appointed the remaining 5 members following advertisement by the Public Appointments Service on 18 of February 2016:
Mr Charles Irwin is an Accountant with the Professional Development Service for Teachers, Dublin;
Mr Diego Gallagher is a solicitor with Byrne Wallace Solicitors, Dublin;
Ms Emer Woodfull is a practicing barrister at the Law Library, Dublin;
Ms Fiona Murphy is a service coordinator with Extern - a charitable organisation which provides services to children assessed as being high risk requiring intensive community based support;
Mr Michael Farrell is Corporate Secretary in University College Cork.
I have since made two additional appointments to this Board. Mr Tadgh Delaney was appointed 26 July 2016 following the resignation of Mr Dan Kelleher. Mr Delaney is an official in my Department. I appointed Mr Liam Walsh on 2 November 2016 following his nomination by the Minister for Education and Skills to replace Ms Fionnuala Anderson who had previously resigned.
