Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 505: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards since March 2011 that have appeared before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35619/12]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since my appointment in March 2011 ten Chairpersons have been appointed or re-appointed to state boards under the aegis of my Department. To date three Chairpersons have met the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht.

Arrangements are being made for the Chairperson of An Bord Pleanala to appear before the Committee when the Annual report of that agency is formally published.

The Chairperson of the Dormant Accounts Board was re-appointed in January 2012 and this Board has now been dissolved under the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act, 2012.

Arrangements are currently being made for the Chairpersons of The Dublin Docklands Development Authority and the Environmental Protection Agency to meet the Committee.

An interim Board was established for the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency (HSCA). The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2012 was enacted in June 2012, with the Establishment Order for the HSCA to follow as soon as possible and the interim Board will remain in place in the meantime. It is the intention that the Chair of the HSCA will attend the Joint Committee following the formal establishment of the Agency.

The Local Government Management Services Board and the Local Government Computer Services Board have a common board, pending the establishment of a merged body – the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) – on a statutory basis. The Chair of the LGMA, when appointed, will also be available to meet the Committee.

Chairs of State bodies are in general available to appear before the relevant Oireachtas Committees when so requested.