Written answers
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Department of Education and Skills
Departmental Agencies Board Appointments
Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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252. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of positions on the boards of bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of vacant positions; when each vacancy occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20682/16]
Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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For the Deputy's information details of board appointments to agencies under the remit of my Department may be downloaded from my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies.
The Deputy should note that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations arising from the terms in the relevant statutes of the Body concerned.
In line with the guidelines for appointments to State Boards, which can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.iethe process for filling vacancies on State Boards under the aegis of the Department is now normally managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS), whereby applications are made through the dedicated website www.Stateboards.ie. An assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates suitable for appointments to Boards.
The vacancies for Chair in the Institute of Technology Sligo, Institute of Technology Tralee and Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology have been advertised through the Public Appointments Service and closing date for applicants is 20th July 2016.
The information requested by the Deputy in regard to the number of vacant positions on the boards of bodies and agencies, in conjunction with the details of the vacancies in other Bodies and in the Higher Education Institutions under the aegis of my Department, is provided in the following table.
Table 1 – Details of Board Vacancies at 12 July 2016 for Bodies under the Aegis of the Department of Education and Skills
| Board | Number of positions on respective Agency Boards | Vacancies | Date vacancies occurred |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher Education Authority | 19 | Chairperson plus 8 members of the board to be appointed following nomination by Minister | 2 vacancies occurred due to resignations in 2015 and 6 board members terms of office expired in December 2015. The Chairperson’s term expired in January 2016. |
| National Council for Special Education | 13 | 12 board members’ term expired. 12 members to be appointed following nomination by Minister | The term of office of 12 board members expired on 31/12/2015 |
| Irish Research Council | 11 | 4 members of board to be appointed following nomination by the Minister for Skills, Research and Innovation | 4 Vacancies - 3 arise as term expired on 18/03/2016; plus 1 unfilled vacancy |
| Léargas | 9 | 1 member to be appointed following nomination by Minister | 1 April 2016 |
| National Council for Guidance in Education | 13 | 12 members and Chairperson’s term expired. Board nominees are made from relevant organisations. | The term of office for the 13 members expired on 07/07/2016 |
| The Teaching Council | 37 | 2 members to be appointed by the Minister | The Council’s term of office expired on 27 March 2016. |
| Educational Research Council | 5 | 5 members to be appointed by the Minister | The first board of the ERC is in the process of being populated. |
Table 2. Details of Other Non-Aegis Bodies where Board vacancies exist
| Other Bodies | Number of positions on Boards | Vacancies | Date vacancies arose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middletown Centre for Autism Limited – this is a company set up under Limited Liability in Northern Ireland. | Membership of 10 of which 5 are Irish Board members | Membership of 5 Irish ordinary Board members to be appointed by the Minister | Term of Office for Irish members (5 of the 10 Board members) expired on 16th March 2016. |
Table 3. Details of Higher Education Institutions with Board Vacancies
| Institution | Number of Members on Governing Body | Vacancy/Vacancies | Date Vacancy/Vacancies Arose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute of Technology Sligo | The Legislation governing the 13 Institutes of Technology and DIT is the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Dublin Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 respectively. Each Governing Body consists of a Director/President, a Chairperson and 17 ordinary (18 in DIT) members. | Chairperson to be nominated by Minister | 27th February 2016 |
| Institute of Technology Tralee | The Legislation governing the 13 Institutes of Technology and DIT is the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Dublin Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 respectively. Each Governing Body consists of a Director/President, a Chairperson and 17 ordinary (18 in DIT) members. | Chairperson to be nominated by Minister | 31st July 2013 |
| Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology (Chair) | The Legislation governing the 13 Institutes of Technology and DIT is the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 and the Dublin Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006 respectively. Each Governing Body consists of a Director/President, a Chairperson and 17 ordinary (18 in DIT) members. | Chairperson to be nominated by Minister | 21st July 2015 |
| An Chomhairle Bhéaloideas Éireann | The Council consists of 10 persons, 6 appointed by the President of UCD and 4 nominated by the Minister for Education and Skills. | 4 members of the Council to be nominated by the Minister | 1st October 2015 |
| NUI Maynooth | Section 16 of the Universities Act, 1997 provides that a governing authority will comprise between 20 and 40 members including: - between 1 and 4 Ministerial nominees after consultation with the Chief Officer | 2 members to be nominated by Minister | 30th October 2015 |
| NUIG | Section 16 of the Universities Act, 1997 provides that a governing authority will comprise between 20 and 40 members including: - between 1 and 4 Ministerial nominees after consultation with the Chief Officer | 3 members to be nominated by Minister | 1st February 2016 |
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