Written answers
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Department of Education and Skills
Appointments to State Boards
9:00 pm
Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a breakdown of the number of appointments that have been made to State boards by him since he came to office, including the names of the appointees and the boards they have been appointed to; the number of these appointments that have been made using new procedures involving the advertising of such posts on his Department's websites and the interview of the chairperson of boards by Oireachtas committee; if he will highlight situations where this process has not occurred; and the reason it has not occurred in each case. [5042/12]
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The following table provides a list of appointments made to bodies under the aegis of my Department since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills for the Deputy's information. It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me, as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned. The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department has recently corresponded with survivors groups seeking nominations for the new Board of the Education Finance Board (EFB). This Board will effectively be a caretaker board which will serve for a number of months pending the establishment of the Statutory Fund. It is envisaged that the new Fund will assume the functions of the Board and the Board will be dissolved when the fund is set up.
In December 2011, in accordance with Government policy, expressions of interest were sought from suitably qualified and experienced persons for consideration for appointment to the following boards of Bodies operating under my Department aegis:
Léargas Ltd
– The Exchange Bureau
The Higher Education Authority
The Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (to be newly established)
Interested applicants were advised to register an Expression of Interest through the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
Vacancies on other Boards of Bodies under the aegis of the Department that arise during 2012 will be advertised on my Department's website. The Deputy should note that in making any direct Ministerial appointments, I am not necessarily confined to those who make such expressions of interest but will ensure that all of those appointed have the relevant qualifications for the positions.
Breakdown of appointments
| Agency Name | Number Appointments /re-appointments | Names | Notes |
| Foras Áiseanna Saothair | 1 appointment | Mr. Michael Moriarty | Mr. Moriarty, who is General Secretary of the IVEA, was appointed in July 2011 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. |
| Further Education & Training Awards Council(FETAC) | 11 re-appointments | Mr. Donal O'RourkeDr. Padraig WalshMs. Margaret O'ConnellMr. Rory O'SullivanMr. Joseph O'LearyMs. Deirdre KeyesMs. Bridie DalyMs. Margaret MernaghMr. John MulcahyMr. Tony PetitMs. Shira Mehiman | As FETAC's term of office expired in December 2011, and to meet with statutory obligations, eligible members of the outgoing Board were re-appointed to the Board until such time as the new QQAAI is established. All 11 re-appointedon 21st December 2011. |
| Higher Education and Training Awards Council(HETAC) | 2 appointments8 re-appointments | Dr. Maria Hinfelaar (1st appointed 9/6/2011)Mr. Aengus Ó Maoláin (1st appointed 1/7/2011)Prof. Séamus SmythDr. Finola Doyle-O'NeillDr. Marion PalmerDr. Íde Ní FhaoláinMs. Mary Mc GlynnDr. Diarmuid O'Callaghan | As HETAC's term of office expired in December 2011, and to meet with statutory obligations, eligible members of the outgoing Board were re-appointed to the Board until such time as the new QQAAI (see note 1) is established. All 8 re-appointed on 21st December 2011. |
| Higher Education Authority | 1 re-appointment | Mr Gary Redmond | Mr. Redmond was re-appointed in July 2011 by virtue of his re-appointment as President of the USI |
| National Council for Curriculumand Assessment | 2 appointments | Mr. Seán Ó CoinnProfessor Noirín Hayes | Mr. Ó Coinn nominated by Foras na Gaeilge and Professor Noirín Hayes nominated by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Both appointed on the 13th of December 2011. |
| National Council for Special Education | 1 appointment | Ms. Maureen Costello | Director of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) appointed in September 2011. |
| National Qualifications Authority of Ireland | 1 appointment5 re-appointments | Mr. Gary Redmond (1st appointed 24/6/2011)Prof. Anne ScottMs. Marie BourkeMr. Eamon DevoyMs. Audry DeaneMr. Tony Donohue | All re-appointed on 31st March 2011 with exception of Mr Redmond.See Note 1. |
| Residential Institutions Redress Board | 11 re-appointments | Dr. Fionnuala O'LoughlinDr. Helen CummiskeyDr. Harry BuglerDr. Mary BluettDr. Ruth PilkingtonDr. William DelaneyMr. John CampbellMs Ann O'BrienMs Samantha Cruess CallaghanMs Dariona Conlon | All re-appointed on 16th December 2011 |
| Residential Institutions Review Committee | 6 re-appointments | The Hon. Mr. Justice Francis D. MurphyMr. John DaltonMs Ita ManaganMr. Justice John BuckleyMr. Brendan GogartyMr. Colm Gaynor | All re-appointed on 16th December 2011 |
| Skillnets Ltd (See Note 1) | 1 | Mr. Mícheál Ó Fiannachta | A Departmental official appointed in June 2011. |
Note 1: The Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) are to merged to form a new body to be known as the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI) in the coming months.
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