Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 260: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide the following information regarding the agencies operating under her aegis (details supplied) namely, the total number of whole time equivalent staff, the total number of board members, the chairperson and board members respective remuneration packages, the total annual wage bill and the total amount of central funding provided to the agency inclusive of wage bill. [30923/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are no full-time staff allocated to the Social Welfare Tribunal. One member of staff from my Department acts as Secretary to the Tribunal as part of their normal duties.

The Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two nominated by ICTU and two nominated by IBEC. All are appointed by the Minister.

The Chairperson and members do not receive an annual salary but are paid appearance fees for attending hearings or meetings. The Tribunal holds hearings and meetings as required to deal with social welfare entitlement issues arising in the context of industrial disputes.

The chairperson is paid a set fee of €488.11 per sitting day at hearings and €73.44 for attending meetings. Members are paid a set fee of €136.71 per sitting day at hearings and €68.36 for attending meetings. They also have an entitlement to travel and subsistence expenses, where appropriate.

The Deputy mentions the Social Welfare Appeals Office and while the Appeals Office functions independently of the Department of Social Protection, it is none the less not a separate agency. It is managed by the Chief Appeals Officer who is an official of the Minister.