Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

82. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the vacancies on the boards and governing authorities of the higher education institutions nominated by Government in tabular form; the process for such appointments; if such vacancies will be publicly advertised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13461/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

HEIs are not considered State Boards and therefore the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is not involved in the process for filling positions arising on their Governing Bodies. The exception to this is in respect of Chairpersons of the Governing Bodies of the Institutes of Technology (IoTs) where PAS has agreed to undertake the appointment process for such positions.

The process for selecting and appointing members of the Governing Bodies of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) varies depending on the type of institution and the legislation governing it.

In the case of IoTs, the appointment of the Governing Body is governed by the provisions of Section 6 of the RTC (Amendment) Act 1994 (as amended by the Institutes of Technology Act 2006) which also states that the Governing Body of an IoT will comprise of the Chairperson, President of the Institute and 17 ordinary members. Under the Act, the Minister for Education and Skills appoints the ordinary members to the Governing Body of an Institute of Technology, on the recommendation of the local Education and Training Board. The full details are outlined in the relevant legislation.

A similar process is provided for the appointment of the Governing Body in Dublin Institute of Technology under the Dublin Institute of Technology (Amendment) Act, 1994.

The process for the appointment of a Governing Body of a University is set out in Section 16 of the Universities Act 1997 which also states that the Governing Body of a University will comprise between 20 and 40 members. Section 16 (3)(c) of the Universities Act provides that between 1 and 4 of those members will be appointed by the Governing Body on the nomination of the Minister for Education and Skills, following consultation by the Minister with the President of the University.

Additionally, in the case of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), the NCAD Act 1971 outlines that my Department select and appoint members to its Governing Body. In that context, my Department undertakes an advertising campaign to seek applications from interested persons and selects suitable candidates based on the qualifying criteria from which I, as Minister, select and appoint the members to the Governing Body.

The Deputy should also be aware that the Technological Universities Act 2018 contains provision for the streamlining of the governing bodies of technological universities in line with best international practice and the National Strategy on Higher Education to 2030.

The Technological Universities Act 2018 will also bring the requirements for other IoTs into line with those for technological universities in this regard, within twelve months of the coming into operation of the relevant sections of the Act and amends the relevant existing legislation accordingly.

The following is a list of the Governing Bodies of the higher education institutions outlining details of current vacancies:

*The process for filling the vacancies in NCAD will be completed shortly. The processes for filling other vacancies is ongoing.