Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for obtaining external nominations to education and training boards; if this process has commenced in each of the boards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27224/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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In accordance with Section 30(1) of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 (the Act), each education and training board will consist of 21 members as follows: 12 members elected by the relevant local authority; 2 members elected by ETB staff; 2 members appointed by the ETB from nominees of the National Parents Council; 5 members appointed by the ETB from bodies specified by the Minister for Education and Skills which have a special interest in, or knowledge of education.

With regard to the bodies specified by the Minister, at least one person from each the following categories must be appointed: bodies representative of business, industry and commerce; bodies representative of learners; bodies representative of persons engaged in the management of, or leadership in, recognised schools. All such appointees must reside within the functional area of the board and at least 2 must be women and at least 2 must be men. In accordance with section 31 of the Act, these 5 persons will be appointed by an ETB board at its second meeting, which cannot be held before 23 July 2014. I have provisionally specified a number of bodies and have asked them to confirm that they will be in a position to nominate in accordance with the requirements of the Act.