Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details on the number and names of all semi-State companies and statutory agencies under the remit of her Department; if she will provide a list of all members of the board of such organisations for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; if she will provide a list of all expenses associated with membership of these boards on an individual basis for the relevant years; if she will provide information relating to the profession or occupation of all such members of the relevant State companies and statutory agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13500/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to inform the Deputy that the position in respect of my Department is that four agencies are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI), the Family Support Agency (FSA), the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for children detention schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001. They are also funded through my Department's Vote and I am responsible for the appointment of their Board of Management.

The Deputy should note that the Board of the AAI was only established on 1st November, 2010. The Office for the Ombudsman for Children does not have a Board of Management.

All Board members are paid travel and subsistence as appropriate, in accordance with the provisions of the governing legislation, for attendance at Board meetings. A record of attendance at all meetings is maintained. I cannot provide a list of all expenses associated with membership of these boards on an individual basis and could not compile such without a disproportionate use of my Department's staff resources. The accounts of each of the bodies in question are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

I have set out in tabular format below a list of all appointments for the Boards of Management as described above.