Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 206: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of positions on State boards and agencies under his aegis which he has advertised in the past seven months; the number of applications received; the number of applicants subsequently appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34503/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's officials are currently finalising arrangements to effect the government decision regarding direct Ministerial appointments to State boards and issues regarding the advertising of future vacancies will be addressed in this context. For the Deputy's information the following appointments have been made to the Boards of the Bodies under the aegis of my Department since my appointment:

- Mr. Eamonn Devoy, Mr. Tony Donohoe, Professor Anne Scott, Ms. Maria Bourke and Ms. Audrey Deane were all appointed to the Board of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) with effect from end March 2011. While the terms of office for these appointments are for a five year period the NQAI is to be merged with both the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) to form a new body to be known as the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI) in the coming months.

- Mr. Mícheál Ó Fiannachta, a Departmental official, was appointed to the Board of Skillnets Ltd with effect from June 2011.

- Dr Maria Hinfelaar and Mr Aengus Ó Maoláin were appointed to the Higher Education and Awards Council (HETAC) in June 2011. As in the case of the NQAI, this body is to be merged into the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland in the coming months. It is customary for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) to have one representative on the board of HETAC. Mr Ó Maoláin was nominated by the USI.

- Ms. Maureen Costello was appointed to the National Council for Special Education Board in September 2011. Ms. Costello is the Director of the National Educational Psychological Service and her appointment was made because of the close interactions between the two agencies concerned.

- Mr. Michael Moriarty was appointed to the FÁS Board in July 2011. The vacancy on the FÁS Board arose in July 2011 following the resignation of Mr. Sean Gallagher. Mr. Moriarty, who is General Secretary of the IVEA, was appointed because of his expertise in the Vocational Education Committees which will be availed of particularly when FÁS is transformed into SOLAS, the new further education and training authority.

- Mr. Gary Redmond was re-appointed to the Higher Education Authority in July 2011. It is customary for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) to have one representative on the board of the Higher Education Authority. Mr. Redmond was nominated by the USI.