Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 January 2012
597 Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total amount paid in remuneration and expenses to members of publicly appointed State boards, both public sector and semi-State, in 2011; her views that savings can be made in this area; the number of persons in total who sit on these boards. [4579/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to inform the Deputy that the position in respect of my Department is that four agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), the Family Support Agency (FSA), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for children detention schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. They are funded through my Department's Vote and I am responsible for the appointment of their board of management.
The board of the NEWB has a full complement of 13 members and there are currently 8 members, including the CEO, and 5 vacancies. The AAI has a total of 7 board members and there are 2 vacancies at present. The FSA currently has a complement of 12 board members with 5 currently serving and 7 vacancies. The board for the children detention school consists of 13 Board members including a chairperson. There is no board for the Ombudsman for Children's Office.
In respect of remuneration for board members in 2011, the remuneration payable to members of the FSA was €5,985 and the chairperson was paid €8,978. The chairperson of the AAI was paid €63,120 and ordinary board members were each paid €7,965. The chairperson of the board for the children detention schools was entitled to a payment of €5,985 but was only paid €2,261.27 as he resigned on 18 May 2011. Of the other board members, 6 were paid €2,992.50 each. The chairman of the NEWB was paid €5,000 but there is no remuneration being paid for ordinary members of the board. Members of boards who were already employed in the public service were not paid any remuneration.
Each agency maintains records of expenses paid to board members. For example, all board members are paid travel and subsistence as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the governing legislation, for attendance at board meetings. However, as each of the agencies in question and the children detention schools have not yet finalised their respective accounts for 2011, I cannot at this time provide the information on expenses paid to board members in 2011 as sought by the Deputy.
Governance arrangements generally for these agencies and the children detention schools, including the potential for savings, will be examined in my Department in the context of the review of delivery of family and children services and in the context of this Government's commitment to Public Service Reform.
