Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 418: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on the gender-balance of agencies under the auspices of her Department; and when she intends to carry out a review of these bodies in terms of gender balance. [7966/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department routinely reviews the gender balance of State boards under the auspices of my Department. Quarterly returns are made to the equality section of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform which has a co-ordinating role.

Since September 2003, the number of female members of State boards under the auspices of the Department of Education and Science has increased from 370 to 581 which represents an increase from 36% to 39%.

In addition my Department is funding a research project on Senior Appointments in Education, A Study of Management Culture. This project is looking at senior appointments in the first, second and third levels of the education sector, at senior appointments in the agencies under the auspices of my Department and at senior management appointments in the Department itself. This project is expected to be completed in autumn 2006. My Department attaches a high priority to raising awareness of gender issues in all areas of the education system and has initiated a large number of research activities and projects designed to maintain progress in this area.