Written answers
Tuesday, 16 July 2013
Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Departmental Bodies Expenditure
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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677. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the fees and expenses paid to each member of each State board to include the chair and board member and the number of members on each State board under the aegis of his Department. [34507/13]
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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694. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the annual saving to the Exchequer if all State Agency board fees were reduced by 25% under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36469/13]
Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 694 together.
The information requested by the Deputy is attached in the table below. As the Deputy will be aware, some members of boards are not entitled to claim fees due to the "one salary" rule. In addition some board members have waived their fee on a voluntary basis. Based on the figures contained in the table below, the annual saving to the exchequer if fees were to be reduced by 25% is approximately €64,455.
However, I have already:reduced fees payable to the Irish Film Board by 100% and stated that fees for board membership will not be paid in respect of all board or advisory council positions at the National Gallery of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Crawford Art Gallery, Chester Beatty Library, National Archives of Ireland, National Library of Ireland, National Museum of Ireland, Irish Manuscripts Commission and Culture Ireland.
Legislation is being prepared to the payment of these fees.
I am advised that all expenses are paid in line with guidelines from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
| Name of Board | Total number of currently serving Board members | Vacancies | Fees payable | Fees waived | Fees not applicable due to one salary rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts Council | 13 (12 + Chair) | 0 | Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 | 3 | 0 |
| Heritage Council | 16 (15 + Chair) | 1* | Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 | 2 | 5 |
| Irish Film Board | 7 (6+Chair) | 7 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| National Concert Hall | 15 (14 + Chair) | 0 | Chair - €9,450 Members: 0 | 0 | 0 |
| National Gallery of Ireland | 17 | 2 | Chair - €8,978 Member - €5,985 | 0 8 | 2 |
| Crawford Art Gallery | 16 | 8 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Chester Beatty Library | 12 (11 + Chair) | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| National Archives Advisory Council | 12 (11 + Chair) | 0 | 0 | N/A | N/A |
| Irish Manuscripts Commission | 20 (19+Chair) There are also 4 honorary members. | 0 | Chair: €10,500 Member: 0 | Yes - Chair waives fee | N/A |
| Údarás na Gaeltachta | 11 (10 + 1 chair) | 1 | Chair: €20,520 Board members: €11,970 | 0 | Currently the Chair and 5 other members do not receive any fees. |
| National Museum of Ireland | 15 | 1 | Chair: €8,978 Board Member: €5,985 | Fees waived | N/A |
| National Library of Ireland | 13 (12 + Chair) | 1 | Chair: €8,978 Board Member: €5,985 | 1 | 3 |
| Irish Museum of Modern Art | 15 (14 + Chair) | 7 | Chair: €8,978 Board Member: 0 | Yes - Chair waives fee | N/A |
For the sake of completeness, I should add that appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge (16 members) and the Ulster-Scots Agency (8 members), being agencies of the North South Implementation Body, An Foras Teanga, Body are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. Relevant board details, including fees, are published on the websites www.forasnagaeilge.ie and www.ulsterscotsagency.com
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