Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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505. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the gender quota targets for the boards of State bodies and agencies under their remit; the level reached to date; and their future plans to meet and maintain the targets. [32760/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The Programme for Government commits to take steps to ensure that all State Boards have at least 40 per cent of each gender. In April 2011, a proposal brought to Government by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, was approved to allow that future vacancies on State Boards be advertised on the website of the relevant Government Department. The public advertisements inviting applications contain the following line:

“In considering applications due regard will be given to Government policy on gender balance on State Boards.”

As of 4 July 2014, the latest date for which information is available, 33% of places on Boards under the aegis of my Department were held by women.

All appointments to State Boards are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering appointments, due regard is had to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.