I propose to take Questions Nos. 444, 445, 446, 447 and 448 together.
The Student Grant Appeals Board (the Board) was established under Section 25 of the Student Support Act 2011 and under Section 21(4)(a) is independent in the performance of its functions. The current Board comprises of a Chairperson and 10 ordinary members.
Under Section 25(14) of the Act, administrative support may be furnished to the Board as necessary, this includes access to legal advice.
Updated Terms of Reference for the Student Grant Appeals Board were finalised by my Department in March 2019 and presented to the Board.
The term of office of the Appeals Board is for 5 years and the current Board is due to be replaced in September 2021. The Public Appointments Service is the centralised provider of recruitment, assessment and selection services for the Civil Service. The Public Appointments Service also aims to provide an open, efficient and effective gateway and process to identify top quality people for consideration by Ministers for appointment to State Boards. Vacancies to the Board will be informed to the public through the website www.stateboards.ie prior to end of June 2021.
Since my appointment in June 2020, I have not met with the Board, however the Board have been requested to submit a report of its activities for 2020 for review, as set out under Section 27 of the Act.