Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of State boards meeting the 40% gender balance target in respect of their membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44132/19]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The most recent figures, as of December 2018, show the average gender balance across all State Boards stood at 41.5% female and 58.5% male members. 

The 40% target had been met in respect of almost half, 47.6%, of individual boards.  The Public Appointments Service constitutes a model of best practice that can be used by Government Departments or by existing Boards to improve the gender balance of Boards currently failing to meet the 40% target.

The Deputy may be aware that, in March, the Government approved a set of recommendations made by the Inter-Departmental Group on Gender Balance on State Boards to promote greater gender balance in this area. Key actions include increasing the visibility of this issue, changing behaviour, and strengthening governance and reporting mechanisms.  I can advise the Deputy that progress made on implementing these recommendations will be reviewed at the end of this year.

More information on these recommendations is available on my Department's  website at this link: .