Written answers
Thursday, 16 November 2006
Department of Education and Science
Appointments to State Boards
5:00 pm
Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the statutory processes involved in the appointment of chairs and members of non-departmental public bodies under the remit of her Department and their legislative origin. [38339/06]
Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The statutory process involved in the appointment of chairpersons and members of bodies varies considerably, according the statutory scheme. The following details relate to those appointments which have a statutory basis.
The Deputy may wish to note that a number of bodies operate on an administrative rather than statutory basis, and they have not been included in the following table. The Deputy may also wish to note that educational establishments, and their governing bodies, have not been included in this reply.
The statutory process involved in the appointment of certain categories of person or to a certain position within a public body includes the following:
| Board/Body | Legislation | Process by which person is appointed |
| Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse | Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse Acts 2002 to 2005 | Members appointed by the Government following consultation with the Chairperson; Chairperson appointed by Government. |
| Education (Former Residents of Certain Institutions for Children) Finance Board | Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 as amended by Part 3 of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Amendment) Act 2005 | Chairperson and 8 ordinary Members appointed by the Minister (4 of whom are former residents of the institutions concerned) |
| Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) | Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 | 18 Council members are appointed by the Minister on foot of nominations from a number of bodies (CERT, Teagasc, An Foras, IBEC, ICTU) and some of whom are ex-officio (the CEOs of HETAC and FETAC). The Chairperson is appointed by the Minister following consultations with the Ministers for Agriculture & Food, Enterprise Trade & Employment, Arts, Sport and Tourism |
| Grangegorman Development Agency | Grangegorman Development Agency Act 2005 | 15 members, including Chairperson, are appointed by the Minister following nomination from a number of bodies such as DIT, Dublin City Council, Minister for Health and Children. |
| Higher Education Authority (HEA) | Higher Education Authority Act 1971 | 18 ordinary members, appointed by Government. Chairperson appointed by Government on recommendation of the Minister. |
| Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) | Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 | 15 Council members are appointed by the Minister following nomination by a number of bodies. The Chairperson is appointed by the Minister following consultations with the Ministers for Agriculture & Food, Enterprise Trade & Employment, Arts, Sport and Tourism |
| National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) | Education (Welfare) Act 2000 | 11 of the 12 ordinary members of Board are appointed by the Minister following nominations from a number of bodies and organisations. Chairperson is appointed by the Minister. |
| National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) | Education Act 1998 | Council and Chairperson are appointed by the Minister following nominations from a number of bodies and organisations (eg ASTI, CPSMA, IBEC, JMB) |
| National Council for Special Education (NCSE) | Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 | Council members are appointed by the Minister for periods of office of up to 4 years. |
| National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) | Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 | 14 Authority members appointed by the Minister, of whom some are nominated by various bodies. Chairperson is appointed by the Minister following consultations with the Ministers for Agriculture & Food, Enterprise Trade & Employment, Arts, Sport and Tourism |
| Residential Institutions Redress Board | Residential Institutions Redress Acts 2002 and 2005 | Chairperson and Board members are appointed by the Minister |
| Residential Institutions Review Committee | Residential Institutions Redress Acts 2002 and 2005 | Chairperson and Committee members are appointed by the Minister |
| Special Education Appeals Board | Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 | Chairperson and Board members are appointed by the Minister |
| State Examinations Commission | Education Act 1998 | 5 Commission members are appointed by Government on nomination by the Minister. |
| Teaching Council | Teaching Council Acts 2001 and 2006 | 37 Council members are appointed by the Minister, of whom some are nominees of various bodies whilst others are elected by members of their profession |
The term 'public body' has not been taken to be understood as including educational institutions or bodies without a national remit.
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