The Department of Rural and Community Development
was established on 19 July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
The Department is committed to adhering to guidelines and protocols in relation to appointments to boards or agencies. The key policy in place in this regard is the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER), in August 2016.
This policy provides that board appointments must be made in compliance with the Public Appointments Service process set down in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards published by DPER, except where the manner of such appointment is otherwise prescribed in the specific statutory provisions relating to the State body.
I can confirm that one official from my Department is a member of the board of the National Digital Research Centre.