Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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254. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to ensure that there is a regional and gender balance on the new board of An Chomhairle Ealaíon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24131/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Arts Act 2003 requires there to be a statutory gender balance on the Arts Council.  Section 11(7) of the Arts Act 2003  states that "Of the members of the Council, not less than 6 of them shall be men and not less than 6 of them shall be women".  This legislation also requires members of the Council to have a special interest or knowledge in relation to the arts or matters concerned with the functions of the Minister or the Council. 

In line with Government policy, all Ministerial appointments to State boards under my remit including the Arts Council 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.

The Arts Council currently has a number of vacancies with further ones arising over the next 12 months including the Chair of the Arts Council. Under the PAS process, expressions of interest were invited from members of the public to join the Board of the Arts Council. 

The call for expressions closed on 25 May 2018.  The PAS will convene a panel to review the applications received and a short list of names will be submitted to me for final selection and appointment. 

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.  I will also consider regional balance in making appointments.