Written answers

Tuesday, 8 November 2005

Department of Education and Science

Appointments to State Boards

8:00 pm

James Breen (Clare, Independent)
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Question 631: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons with disabilities she has appointed to State boards under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33025/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Appointments to State boards are in the first instance subject to the relevant legislation. The overriding requirement in the appointment process is that nominees will have the capacity to contribute effectively to the work of the boards on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in the relevant area. As a matter of general practice, my Department would not hold personal information on members of boards, including whether or not a person had a disability.

In respect of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, the relevant legislation requires that "the Minister shall have regard to the desirability of there being among those appointed as members of the Council persons who themselves have special educational needs". Two persons who were appointed to the NCSE when established in 2003 had disabilities. Vacancies exist in respect of those two positions and I will have regard to the above requirement in the replacement process.

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