Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
35. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of current vacancies on the board of the Arts Council; if she will commit to ensuring that some artists or arts practitioners will be appointed to fill the vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37396/16]
View answerIn line with the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, current members of the Arts Council have extensive knowledge of the arts, both as practitioners, in the areas of writing, theatre and the visual arts, and as arts managers.
There are currently 6 vacancies on the Council. The Public Appointments Service, which operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises vacancies on State Boards, recently called for expressions of interest in these vacancies. Following an assessment of the expressions of interest received, the Public Appointments Service notifies me, as Minister, of the applicants who are qualified. This process is ongoing and will hopefully be completed in the near future.
