Written answers
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
Department of Education and Skills
Appointments to State Boards
Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of appointments made to State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011; the number of positions that have been advertised; the number of applications to the boards; the number of appointments to the board that were drawn from the applications; the current number of vacancies on each board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28974/13]
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Details of Membership of Boards and appointment dates can be downloaded from my Department's website; this information is updated when any relevant changes occur. www.education.ie. 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 should further 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 skills and competencies for the positions.
The information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards since March 2011 is outlined in the following table.
| Name of Board | Number of appointments made to state boards since March, 2011 | Number of positions advertised over which the Minister can directly appoint | Number of Applicants via PAS | Appointments made from members of the public who applied through the PAS process | Year Advertised | Current number of vacanices | Year appointments made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 2012 |
| An Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) | 3 (Note 1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 2011/2013 |
| Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) | 14 | 6 | 17 | 3 | 2012 | 0 | 2012 |
| Higher Education Authority (HEA) | 10 | 9 | 81 | 2 | 2011 | 0 | 2012 |
| Irish Research Council | 11 (Note2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 2012 |
| Léargas | 10 (Note 3) | 10 | 49 | 0 | 2011 | 1 | 2012 |
| National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE) | 5 | 1 | - | - | 2013 | 0 | - |
| National Council for Curriculum & Assessment (NCCA) | 25 | 3 | 29 | 2 | 2012 | 0 | 2012 |
| National Council for Special Education (NCSE) | 13 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 2012 | 0 | 2013 |
| Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) | 10 | 8 | 60 | 3 | 2011 | 0 | 2012 |
| Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) | 9 | 9 | 37 (Note 4) | 3 | 2012 | 0 | 2013 |
| Skillnets Ltd | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 2011/2012 |
| State Examinations Commission (SEC) | 5 | 5 | 19 | 2 | 2012 | 0 | 2012 |
| Teaching Council | 37 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 2012 | 0 | 2012 |
Note 1: Three interim appointments were made to the Board of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS) in January 2013 as the agency is expected to be replaced by SOLAS, the new Further Education & Training Authority in the coming months. As a result, these vacancies were not published on PAS. Appointments to the Board of FÁS were made after consultation with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.
Note 2: The Irish Research Council was created in 2012 following the merger of the Irish Research through the merger of the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). The merger was announced in the government’s Public Sector Reform Plan in November 2011. - See more at: http://www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Irish-Research-Council.html#sthash.uVEqFMF0.dpuf. The boards of the two agencies were merged so no new appointments arose when it was created.
Note 3: Léargas figure includes overall number of appointments made subsequent to several resignations occurring during the period in question.
Note 4: A number of applications for the RISF were sent directly to the Department on foot of the public notices. Overall there were 43 expressions of interest, of which 6 were appointed to the board.
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