Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

In response to the Deputy's question the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, State bodies, Semi-state bodies and State agencies under the remit of my Department is two. In the case of the Public Appointments Service, the chairperson is paid €11,970 per annum.  Currently, the only expenses paid are to the Chairperson in respect of travel from Belfast which is in the region of €200 approximately per annum. The Institute of Public Administration do not pay fees to board members. It should be noted that while my Department is responsible for determining the fee rate policy for chairpersons and members of commercial and non-commercial State bodies, it is the responsibility of each Department to implement the approved fee rates for chairpersons and members in each of the State bodies.

The fee rates for both commercial and non-commercial State bodies were reduced by 10% in 2009. The FEMPI Act 2009 provided for a further reduction of approximately 6% in the fees payable to members of the boards of non-commercial Public Service bodies with effect from January 2010.  There are no current plans to further reduce the fee rates payable to chairpersons and members of State bodies. Similarly, while my Department has responsibility for policy on travel and subsistence it does not have a direct role in controlling the application of that policy in each individual State agency and body.

The code of practice for the governance of State bodies sets out the rules with regard to travel and subsistence in non-commercial state bodies. Page 20 of the code states that non-commercial bodies should adopt and comply in all respects with the circulars issued from time to time by my Department regarding travel and subsistence.

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