Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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519. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide in respect of State boards under his Department's remit the number of appointments to State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards; the number of vacancies in State boards publically advertised; and the number of appointments to State boards drawn directly from the public advertisement process in the period March 2011 to 2015 to date. [23580/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Forty-eight persons have been appointed to the boards of management of bodies under the aegis of my Department, since its establishment in June 2011. Details are set out in the following table:

The Deputy may wish to note that the governing legislation in relation to each of these bodies sets out the composition of the board either in terms of their qualifications and experience, or the Government Minister or body that is responsible for nominating representatives on them or who must be consulted in the nomination process.

In line with Government decisions in 2011 relating to appointments to State Boards and bodies, the vacancies on the boards of State Bodies and Agencies operating under my Department's aegis were published on my Department's website and expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to these boards were invited. My officials acknowledged all expressions of interest received and maintained a database of those expressions. In May 2013 the Public Appointments Service (PAS), on behalf of my Department, sought expressions of interest from those interested in being appointed to the Board of the Family Support Agency having regard to both its existing statutory functions and its planned role in facilitating the establishment of the Child and Family Agency.

New arrangements concerning appointments to State Boards were approved by Government in November 2014. Guidelines covering the process to be used were published on 25th November 2014 by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Under these new arrangements, PAS will manage the process of advertising and subsequently, the selection of suitable potential appointees to State Boards.

Currently, there are vacancies for the positions of chairperson and one ordinary member of the Board of Management of the Children Detention Schools following the resignations of Mr. Joe Horan and Ms. Rachel Grimes respectively. Another member of the Board, Ms. Ursula Kilkelly, is currently performing the role of acting Chairperson. There is also one vacancy on the Board of the Child and Family Agency following the recent resignation of Ms. Ita Mangan. My Department is currently engaging with the relevant Boards and with PAS to advertise these vacancies on the new State Boards website. I am also arranging for certain vacant positions on Gaisce, the Presidents Award scheme, to be advertised through the State Boards process. Arrangements will also be made to advertise for members of the Adoption Authority of Ireland as the current Board's term ends later this year.

In making my decisions on appointments to boards, subject to the governing legislation, I will consider the most suitable persons for the positions available with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities and I will seek to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills and experience is in place to achieve the best result.