Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average age of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially State-owned companies, of State bodies, of semi-State bodies, and of State agencies under the aegis of her Department on the State's payroll; the number of directors on the board of more than one such body; the number of women; and her plans to make savings from this area. [12560/15]

Shane Ross (Dublin South, Independent)
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33. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of chairpersons and non-executive directors of State or partially State-owned companies, of State bodies, of semi-State bodies, and of State agencies under the aegis of her Department on the State's payroll; the total cost to the State from the pay-out to these non-executive directors, including fees, travel and other expenditure; and her plans to reduce the number of these chairpersons or directors. [12611/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 33 together.

The statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Ombudsman (which does not have a Board) and the Social Welfare Tribunal. In addition, the functions of the former Pensions Board have been replaced by the Pensions Authority, established March 2014 and the Pensions Council, set up this year.

The Citizens Information Board (CIB)

The position of Chairperson of the Board is currently vacant due to the expiry of the term of appointment of the previous incumbent on 3 March, 2015.

The legislative provisions governing appointments to the Citizens Information Board are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011. As set out in the legislative provisions, in making appointments to the Board, I am obliged to have regard to the objective of there being no less than 6 members who are female and no less than 6 members who are male. The current membership of the Board comprises of three males and one female.

There are eleven vacancies on the Board which will be filled in accordance with the legislative provisions.

The Pensions Authority

The Pensions Authority consists of a Chairperson, an official from the Department of Social Protection and an official from the Department of Finance - all of whom are female. No fees are payable to the members. Any travel and subsistence expenses will be remunerated at civil service rates.

The Pensions Council

A separate unpaid Pensions Council was established to advise me and my Department on matters of pension policy and give consumers greater input into pension policy. The Pensions Council was appointed on 3 February 2015. The Pensions Council consists of a Chairperson, the Pensions Regulator, an official from the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, a member nominated by the Minister for Finance as a representative of the Central Bank and seven members of the Council. Qualifications and backgrounds of the Pension Council members selected via the PAS process. There are six male and six female members of the Council. No expenses have accrued to the State to date.

Social Welfare Tribunal

The Board of the Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two of whom are nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two by the Irish Business Employer Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two relevant bodies, ICTU and IBEC. The Chairperson is sourced by the Department of Social Protection by way of a recommendation from the Labour Court with regard to a particular candidate's suitability. When requesting nominations, the Department has requested a female nominee in accordance with the Government's Gender Balance Policy. There is one female sitting on the board. The Chairperson and board members of the Social Welfare Tribunal are not on the Department's payroll although they receive fees when a hearing or meeting is held. Travel and subsistence fees are in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.

A breakdown of fees applicable is outlined in the table.

There are no Directors/board members serving on the boards of the statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department that serve on more than one such body. The Department does not hold data relating to the average age of chairpersons and board members of the bodies referred to above.