Written answers
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources
Departmental Expenditure
9:00 pm
Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the saving to the State if all State agency board members' annual payments were rescinded and instead board membership was awarded without remuneration. [30253/11]
Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I can inform the Deputy that there are 18 State bodies under the aegis of my Department. Of these, 15 bodies have Boards that are currently being paid fees determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, one Board receives no fees and two bodies do not have a Board. The following table details the position regarding the payment of board fees to Chairpersons and Directors of both the commercial and non-commercial bodies under the aegis, if all positions were filled. However, at any given time, not all positions on all boards will be filled.
| Body | Number of Positions | Board Fees Applicable | Total Fees Applicable to Board based on number of positions |
| Broadcasting Authority of Ireland | 9 | Chair: €8,978Director: €5,985 | €56,858 |
| RTÉ | 12 | Chair: €31,500Director: €15,750 | €204,750 |
| TG4 | 12 | Chair: €21,600Director: €12,600 | €160,200 |
| An Post | 15 | Chair: €31,500Director: €15,750 | €252,000 |
| Digital Hub Development Agency1 | 14 | Chair: €11,970Director: €7,695 | €112,005 |
| Bord Gáis Éireann | 9 | Chair: €31,500Director: €15,750 | €157,500 |
| Bord na Móna | 12 | Chair: €21,600Director: €12,600 | €160,200 |
| EirGrid | 10 | Chair: €21,600Director: €12,600 | €135,000 |
| ESB | 12 | Chair: €31,500Director: €15,750 | €204,750 |
| Irish National Petroleum Corporation2 | 5 | Chair: €20,520Director: €11,970 | €56,430 |
| National Oil Reserves Agency2 | 6 | Chair: €8,978Director: €5,985 | €26,933 |
| Sustainable Energy Authority Of Ireland2 | 12 | Chair: €11,970Director: €7,695 | €88,920 |
| Inland Fisheries Ireland3 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Loughs Agency4 | 12 | Chair: €11,970Vice Chair: €9,830Director: €7,695 | €49,375 |
| Ordnance Survey Ireland | 10 | Chair: €11,970Director: €7,695 | €81,225 |
| Total | €1,746,146 | ||
| The Mining Board | 3 | Fees apply to Chair only who is not in receipt of an annual fee, the following fees only apply whenever the Board sits: Fees per day for public and private sittings: €582.97 Fee per full day for any necessary attendance (other than sittings) in discharge of the Board's business: €200.93 |
1. A strategic review of the DHDA is currently being undertaken by my Department. It is envisaged that the Review Process should be completed later this year. It will, inter alia, set out recommendations for the future of the Digital Hub and on the funding model. Following the review I will be in a better position to look at existing Board vacancies (which have remained unfilled since 2009) in the context of the DHDA at that time.
2. Public Servant serving as board member and is therefore not paid additional remuneration for such duties without the prior sanction of Dept of Public Expenditure and Reform. None of the public servants currently serving on the relevant boards are in receipt of a director's fee. There are 2 public servants on the board of NORA.
3. The Board members of Inland Fisheries Ireland are not currently in receipt of fees with effect from 1st July 2010.
4. The Board of the Loughs Agency comprises 12 members and the Irish Exchequer pay half of the cost of their fees. Each member receives a stipend of €7,695 (£5,235) per annum, the vice chair receives €9,830 (£6,690) and the Chair €11,970 (£8,140).
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