Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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248. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the State bodies or boards that fall under the remit of her Department; and the number of members of each State body or board who are not qualified within the field in which the board or body has oversight. [43412/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The following State bodies or boards fall under my remit: the Arts Council; the Chester Beatty Library; the Crawford Art Gallery; the Heritage Council; the Irish Film Board; the Irish Museum of Modern Art; the National Archives Advisory Council; the National Concert Hall; the National Gallery of Ireland; the National Library of Ireland; the National Museum of Ireland; the Irish Manuscripts Commission; Foras na Gaeilge; Údarás na Gaeltachta; and the Ulster Scots Agency.

In line with Government policy, all Ministerial appointments to State boards under my remit are made following an open application process via the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

The dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, is the channel through which the PAS advertises vacancies on State Boards.  It is also the means through which accomplished, experienced and qualified people, including people who might not previously have been identified as available for appointment, can then apply to be considered for particular vacancies.

This process aims to achieve a balance of different skills and qualifications needed for each board, whether these be in the Cultural, Heritage or Gaeltacht areas, or in more general areas of expertise such as corporate governance, finance, risk management, philanthropy, etc.  All of the Ministerial appointments to boards under my remit have met the qualification criteria set by PAS.  In addition, many appointments to the boards under my remit are made in ways other than via direct appointment by me as Minister: ex officio appointments; appointments arising from the recommendations of local authorities or other bodies; appointments by existing trustees in the case of the Chester Beatty Library; and appointments by the North/South Ministerial Council in the case of North/South bodies.