Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government 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. [34504/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The appointments to State boards made since I took office are outlined in the table below:

A notice was placed on my Department's website on 19 July, 2011 seeking expressions of interest, from suitably qualified and experienced persons, for consideration as members or chairpersons of the boards of state bodies under the aegis of my Department. The notice is updated regularly as specific vacancies arise, the most recent relating to the Housing Finance Agency.

Vacancies on the boards of other bodies under the Department's aegis will be notified on the website as they arise. However, expressions of interest can be made at any time and will be kept on file in my Department for consideration as vacancies occur.

All appointments are made in accordance with the appropriate legislation governing appointments to each body. In considering applications due regard is given to Government policy regarding gender balance on State Boards.

A number of different statutory processes are involved in appointments to State boards. In some cases statutory selection procedures must be followed or nominations must be sought from independent nominating panels before appointments are made by the Government or by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In other cases only particular public office holders may be appointed to certain boards. In a number of situations, only some appointments to the body concerned are made by the Minister, or appointments are made with the consent of the Minister for Finance or following consultation with the Minister for Finance or Minister for Education and Skills, as appropriate.

The Boards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and An Bord Pleanála are executive in nature and members are employed on a full time salaried basis. The appointments as Chairperson of An Bord Pleanála and Director General of the EPA were made after competitions held by the Public Appointments Service. On 10 November 2011, I nominated Professor William Reville to the position of Chairman of the Board of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. Before being formally appointed, Professor Reville will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Transport, Culture and Gaeltacht on the 23 November 2011 to discuss the approach which he will take to his role as Chairperson.

The following members were appointed to the Board of Pobal, a not for profit company under the aegis of my Department, by Government on 14 October 2011:

· Mr. Séamus Boland (Chair)

· Mr. Thomas Maguire

· Mr. Liam Keane

· Ms. Siobhan McLoughlin