Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of State agencies currently financed by the Exchequer; the number of board members in each State agency; the expenses issued for each meeting; if any review of the membership of the board is to be carried out in order to monitor attendance levels or lack of attendance by any member; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2055/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The three statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department are the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board. In addition, the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman comes under the remit of the Department but it does not have a board.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members. Unlike other bodies, it does not have a regular schedule of meetings arranged in advance to deal with on-going business. Instead, the Tribunal is called into being as required, with meetings convened solely to deal with specific matters that can arise in the context of industrial disputes. The non-attendance of members is not an issue as hearings/meetings are scheduled as required for dates that are suitable for all members of the Tribunal. Members can claim expenses for attending both hearings and meetings, as set out below. They are also entitled to the standard Travel and Subsistence allowances if hearings/meetings involve travel.

Chairman €

Hearing (per sitting day) 488.11

Meetings 73.44

Members €

Hearing (per sitting day) 136.71

Meetings 68.36

Citizens Information Board

Under the Comhairle Act 2000, as amended by the Citizens Information Act 2007, the Citizens Information Board (CIB) has 15 board members. The CIB publishes a list of serving board members in its annual report and on my Department's website, as follows: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/AboutUs/Pages/CIB_Members.aspx

The CIB pays expenses to board members in line with standard public sector rates. Expenses paid to board members are also published in the CIB annual report. The total expenses paid to board members in 2011 were €9,226.

The CIB keeps the attendance of board members under review with regard to board members fees, as per the CIB code of practice for board members, chairperson, chief executive and secretary, and is satisfied with current attendance patterns. Attendance patterns are also published in the CIB annual report.

Pensions Board

The Pensions Board is financed by annual fees payable by occupational pension schemes, Personal Retirement Savings Accounts and trust Retirement Annuity Contracts. The Board is in receipt of a specific grant in aid for the National Pensions Awareness campaign which it runs on behalf of the government. In 2011, €400,000 was allocated by me in respect of this campaign. This is the only funding that the Board receives from my Department.

There are currently 16 members serving on the Board with one vacancy.

The majority of Board members do not claim any expenses for attending Board meetings. In respect of 2011, total expenses paid to Board members for attending 9 meetings was €1,856.40. These expenses related to reimbursement of travel costs in accordance with standard public service guidelines.

Office of the Ombudsman

The Office of the Ombudsman does not have a Board and therefore no expenses in relation to board members occur.

Further information in relation to the boards of the Social Welfare Tribunal, the Citizens Information Board and the Pensions Board is available on the Department's website at www.welfare.ie/EN/AboutUs/Pages/stateagencies.aspx and is updated as required.