Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 716: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of chairpersons appointed to State boards since March 2011 that have appeared before the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35615/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which 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 the Children Detention Schools (CDS) as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001.

Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office which does not have a board, I am responsible for all Board of Management appointments.

As the Deputy may be aware, in line with the Government decision of April 2011, new arrangements were put in place for the making of appointments to State Boards and bodies. Those who are being proposed for appointment as Chairpersons of State Boards are now required to make themselves available to the appropriate Oireachtas Committee to discuss the approach they will take as Chairperson and their views about the future contribution of the body or board in question. Following that discussion, decisions would then be taken by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate, to confirm the nominee as Chairperson. I can confirm that since March, 2011 two Chairperson designates for boards under the remit of my Department have appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. Mr. Joe Horan, Chairperson designate for the Board of Management of the Children Detention Schools appeared before the Committee on 8 March, 2012. Ms. Sharon Foley, Chairperson designate of the Board of Management of the Family Support Agency also appeared before the same Committee on 8 March, 2012. Following their appearance before the Oireachtas Committee, I appointed Mr. Horan as Chairperson to the Board of Management of the Children Detention Schools with effect from 26 March, 2012 and also appointed Ms. Foley as Chairperson to the Board of Management of the Family Support Agency also with effect from 26 March, 2012.

I can confirm that the Chairperson designate for the National Educational Welfare Board, Ms, Nuala Doherty, is due to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children on July, 26 next.