Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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446. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update regarding the appointment of new board members to Údarás na Gaeltachta; if she will provide an outline of the likely timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1347/23]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The term of the current board of Údarás na Gaeltachta  which was appointed in January 2018 for a 5-year term expired in mid-January 2023.

Under the current arrangements, local authorities with Gaeltacht areas nominate 5 members for appointment to the board with the remaining 7 members appointed by way of a public competition administered by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The Minister also appoints the Chairperson.

The process by which a new board will be appointed to Údarás na Gaeltachta has already commenced; relevant local authorities' nominations to the board have already been sought and received by the Department, while arrangements which are overseen by PAS in respect of the competition by which members of the public will be afforded the opportunity to seek appointment to the board  are currently in hand with a view to commencing the public competition in the coming days. 

It is anticipated that a new board will be in place by mid-March 2023 at the latest.