Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 542: To ask the Minister for Defence the total amount paid in remuneration and expenses to members of publicly appointed State boards both in the public and semi-State sectors in 2011; his views that savings can be made in this area; the number of persons in total who sit on these boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4580/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Board comprises 14 members. There is no remuneration attached to membership of the Civil Defence Board. Board members, including the Chairperson, are entitled to claim reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. In 2011, €18,623 was reimbursed from the Civil Defence Grant- in-Aid to Board members for travel and subsistence expenses. Legislation is currently being drafted to dissolve the Civil Defence Board and transfer the functions of the Board back into the Department of Defence.

The Army Pensions Board comprises three members: a chairperson, a civilian doctor, and an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairperson and the civilian doctor are entitled to annual fees of €7,618 and €5,079 respectively. The members of the Board are also entitled to claim reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. In 2011, €3,700 was reimbursed to members of the Board for travel and subsistence expenses incurred.

There is no remuneration attached to membership of the Board of Coiste an Asgard, which will be dissolved shortly. In the context of settling the Estimates for the Department of Defence for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure. The winding up of Coiste an Asgard is currently underway, and the question of expenses does not arise.