Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 402: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the saving to the State if all State agency board members' annual payments were rescinded and instead board membership was awarded without remuneration. [30259/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I wish to inform the Deputy that for the purposes of answering her question I am listing the Boards under the aegis of my Department which have responsibility for discharging the normal functions of a Board charged with the oversight and governance of statutory agencies. These are as follows: the Courts Service Board, the Private Security Authority, the Equality Authority, the Property Registration Authority, the Legal Aid Board and the National Disability Authority.

A gross total of €570,713 would accrue in savings if Board members' fees were rescinded and Board membership was not remunerated.

The proportion of fees allocated to Chairpersons of the relevant Boards is €65,408 with the remaining amount of €505,305 paid to ordinary members. The figures are provided for a period of a full year and on the basis that the relevant Board has full membership and is not carrying any vacancies.

The Deputy might further wish to note that, as the figures provided above are gross figures, all Board members would be further liable to normal tax deductions in respect of their fees and that the savings to the State would be much less than the gross figures.