Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2005
295 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of appointments to public boards and bodies under the aegis of his Department that he has made for the past three years; if such appointments are salaried; if so, the salary details for each category of appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9108/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe five statutory agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are the Pensions Board, the Combat Poverty Agency, Comhairle, the Social Welfare Tribunal, and the Family Support Agency. In addition, the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of my Department. Pensions Board There were three appointments to the Pensions Board from 1 March 2002. Fees, which are governed by the first schedule of the Pensions Act 1990 as amended are paid to members, excluding civil servants, as follows: The chairperson's fee amounts to €10,160 per annum and each board member receives €6,349 per annum. Combat Poverty Agency, CPA There were 17 appointments to the Combat Poverty Agency board from 1 March 2002 to date. No appointments are salaried. The Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2002 amended the Combat Poverty Agency Act 1986 to provide for the payment of fees to Combat Poverty Agency board members. This provision of the Act came into effect from 9 August 2002 and the following fee levels, approved by the Department of Finance, have been effective from that date to the present. The chairperson's fee amounts to €7,618.43 per annum and each board member receives €5,078.95 per annum. Fees are payable to all members of the board, excluding civil servants. Fee payments are calculated on the basis of the period of time served as a board member. Comhairle There were 17 appointments to the Comhairle board from 1 March 2002 to date. No appointments to the board are salaried. The Social Welfare Tribunal There were five appointments to the Social Welfare Tribunal from 1 March 2002 to date. Members of the tribunal are not salaried. The policy in relation to remuneration of tribunal members is that a fee per hearing is payable to each member: the chairman receives €418.76 per sitting day and €63.00 per conference or meeting. Members receive €117.29 per sitting day and €58.64 per conference or meeting. Fees are payable as per sanction and approval from the Department of Finance. Family Support Agency There were 12 appointments to the inaugural board of the Family Support Agency on 6 May 2003. One member of the inaugural board has been replaced since 6 May 2003. No appointments are salaried. However, board members receive fees on a quarterly basis. The chairperson's fee amounts to €1,904.64 per quarter. Eight other board members each receive €1,269.74 per quarter. Three board members do not receive fees as they are serving civil servants.
