Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she will fill the State board positions on the national board of the Citizens Information Service (details supplied). [8962/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The legislative provisions governing Board membership of the Citizens Information Board (CIB) are contained in the Comhairle Act 2000, the Citizens Information Act 2007, and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2011.

The Board of CIB has seven (7) members at present, including a Chairperson. There are eight (8) vacancies on the Board. In accordance with the Government’s agreed new arrangements for filling State Board vacancies and new Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards published in November 2014, vacancies on the Board of CIB were advertised on the Public Appointments Service (PAS) website from 1^stto 21^stDecember 2015. The vacancies were also publicised on the Department of Social Protection and CIB websites during the same period. Applicants were required to meet specific appointment criteria approved by the Minister and which reflected the views of the Chair of CIB.

One hundred and ninety six (196) expressions of interest were received by PAS. An assessment panel, which included the Chairperson of CIB, examined the information provided by all of the candidates. Following assessment, the panel prepared a report and shortlist of potentially appointable candidates for my consideration in early February 2016.

I have decided that it would be more appropriate to allow the incoming Minister for Social Protection to select candidates from the shortlist drawn up by the Public Appointments Service for appointment to the Board, having regard to the legislative requirements.