Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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406. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will report on the new procedures the Government have introduced for appointments to State boards. [3579/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Board, the Social Welfare Tribunal and the Office of the Pensions Ombudsman.

Citizens Information Board (CIB)

The CIB operates in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

I have made three appointments to the CIB since coming into office. One of these was made following a public request for expressions of interest from suitably qualified and experienced individuals. Advertisement was by way of the Department's website on . The Department also notified its Customer Representative Groups and other stakeholder parties, i.e., MABS companies and Citizen Information Services, of the vacancy. Interested parties registered their interest through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website; . The other two appointments did not require public advertisement as one was the Department's representative to the Board and the other was the CIB's staff representative to the Board.

Pensions Board

The Pensions Board operates in accordance with the Revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies.

There are currently two unfilled vacancies on the Pensions Board which have not been advertised. This is due to the fact that the Public Service Reform Programme provides for a critical review of the integration of the regulatory functions of the Pensions Board with the Financial Regulator and the merging of the Pensions Ombudsman with the Financial Services Ombudsman. The review is to include identifying any potential savings arising from such an amalgamation.

The Critical Review Group, established to carry out the reviews announced under the Public Service Reform Programme, is finalising a draft report with recommendations.

I expect to receive the final report from the Group in the very near future. Following receipt of this report, decisions in relation to the filling of vacancies in the context of possible reforms will be taken.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies does not apply to the Social Welfare Tribunal due to its structure and purpose.

Office of the Pensions Ombudsman

The Office of the Pensions Ombudsman does not have a board.