Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the appointments to and vacancies in the State boards funded from my Department's Vote Group is set out in the table below. It may be noted that appointments to the board of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency are made by the North South Ministerial Council, arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. In the case of Údarás na Gaeltachta, five of the appointees are nominated by local authorities under the terms of the relevant legislation.

Since revised procedures were introduced by this Government, appointments to boards of State bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group are made in accordance with public appointment procedures whereby my Department seeks expressions of interest from the public by advertising on its website and proposed appointees to the position of Chairperson are required to make themselves available to appear before the relevant Oireachtas Committee. It may be noted that, as Minister, I am not bound by the list of applicants when making appointments. I can also approach candidates that may, in my view, have a contribution to make and be willing to serve.

As the Deputy may be aware, on 4 June 2013 an advertisement was published on my Department's website seeking expressions of interest in future vacancies for board members on:

- the Board of the Irish Museum of Modern Art;

- the Board of Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library;

- the Board of Crawford Art Gallery, Cork;

- the Arts Council;

- the Board of the Irish Architectural Archive; and

- the Board of Governors and Guardians of Archbishop Marsh's Library .

There was also a process carried out by the Department of Justice and Law Reform to seek expressions of interest in vacancies on the Censorship of Publications Board and the Censorship of Publications Appeals Board before the functions transferred to my Department and I am currently reviewing this.

Given that the Public Service Reform Plan reduces the membership of certain boards to 9, I do not intend to fill all current vacancies. I have been considering the applications received, however, and I expect to be in a position to make appointments very shortly in a number of the bodies referred to by the Deputies.