Written answers
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Bodies
8:00 pm
Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 259: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of State agencies currently financed by the Exchequer; the number of board members attending each State agency; the expenses issued for each meeting; if any review of the membership of board members is to be taken in order to monitor attendance levels or lack of attendance by any member; and if he will make a statement on the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2050/12]
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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There are currently 20 non commercial bodies under the aegis of my Department. The table provides a breakdown of (a) the number of Board members and (b) remuneration fees due in respect of each of these bodies.
Bodies are required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, which was revised and updated in May 2009, and the Foreign Travel Guidelines 2009 issued by the Department of Finance.
In accordance with Section 3.8 of the revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies the attendance of each Board member at Board meetings is reported in the relevant Body's Annual Report. Issues in relation to travel and subsistence expenses for attendance at meetings are a matter for the bodies concerned. Bodies are aware of the need to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in respect of expenditure of public funds generally and in particular in relation to travel and subsistence expenditure.
| Agency Name | Total Board Members(including Vacancies) | Fees Paid(2011) |
| An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta | 21 | Not Applicable |
| Commission to Inquire Into Child Abuse (CICA) | 6 | See Note 1 |
| Education Finance Board (EFB) | 9 | Not Applicable |
| FÁS | 11 | Chairperson: €20,520Member: €11,790 |
| Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) | 17 | Not Applicable |
| Grangegorman Development Agency | 15 | Chairperson: €8,978 |
| Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) | 15 | Not Applicable |
| Higher Education Authority (HEA) | 19 | Chairperson: €11,970Member: €7,695 |
| Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering & Technology | 12 | Not Applicable |
| Irish Research Council for the Humanities & Social Sciences | 15 | Not Applicable |
| Léargas – The Exchange Bureau | 9 | Not Applicable |
| National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) | 11 | Not Applicable |
| National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) | 25 | Not Applicable |
| National Council for Special Education (NCSE) | 13 | Not Applicable |
| National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) | 14 | Not Applicable |
| Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) | 11 | See Note 2 |
| Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) | 7 | See Note 2 |
| Skillnets Ltd | 13 | Chairperson: €8,978Member: €5,985 |
| State Examinations Commission (SEC) | 5 | Chairperson: €11,970Member: €7,695 |
| The Teaching Council | 37 | Not Applicable |
Note 1: The Chairperson of the CICA is a member of the judiciary who is not paid by the CICA. The ordinary members of the Commission, who were all salaried, are not currently on the payroll.
Note 2: The Chairperson of the RIRB is a member of the judiciary who is not paid by the RIRB. The Chairperson of the RIRC is paid an annual salary for a Supreme Court judge subject to abatement to take account of his pension.
The other board members of both the RIRB and the RIRC are paid a per diem rate and pension abatement applies in the case of members receiving a pension from the State. The per diem rate from 1st January 2011 is €668 per day.
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