Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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99. To ask the Minister for Defence the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, of State bodies, of semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and his plans to make savings from this area. [12554/15]

Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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100. To ask the Minister for Defence the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially owned State companies, of State bodies, of Semi-State bodies and of State agencies under the aegis of his Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the payout to these non-executive directors including fees, travel and other expenditure; and his plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors. [12604/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.

The only body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act, 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The chairman and the non military ordinary member are appointed by the Minister for Defence with the agreement of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Army Medical Corps ordinary member is appointed by the Minister for Defence on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. There is one female member of the Army Pensions Board.

There are no payroll costs in relation to the Army Pensions Board other than the annual fee of €7,618 payable to the chairman. The only expenses payable to the members of the Board are travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines. The total such expenses paid to Board members in 2014 amounted to €8,747.

The average age of members of the Army Pensions Board is 53. In relation to the specific question on the average age of Chairpersons, the Army Pensions Board is the only Board under the aegis of my Department and accordingly, the Deputy will appreciate that for Data Protection reasons I am not in a position to provide the details requested.

There are no plans to reduce the number of members of the Army Pensions Board.