James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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798. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of members of boards in each body under the aegis of his Department who have a professional accounting qualification, for each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12163/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that my Department does not keep such records, which would be a matter for the public body concerned.

My Department receives information from publicjobs regarding the suitability of candidates who have been shortlisted for appointment to positions on boards of State bodies under the aegis of my Department. In accordance with GDPR requirements, however, my Department does not retain these records beyond a point which is necessary.

Under section 4 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, Boards of State Bodies are required to undertake a self-assessment annual evaluation of its own performance and that of its Board committees. Evaluation of the Board should consider the balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the State body on the Board, its diversity, including gender, how the Board works together as a unit, and other factors relevant to its effectiveness.

The Code also states that Board members should have the appropriate skills and knowledge, updated as required, appropriate to the activities of the State body, to enable them to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities effectively. This should include the identification by the Board of any gaps in competencies and ways these gaps could be addressed through future appointments.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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799. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to identify, by body name and associated skills gap, any skills gaps identified by the chairperson of that board in correspondence to his Department or a Minister in respect of the composition of the board of the body referred, for each year between 2020 and 2025, in tabular form; to identify any body where the chairperson of that board never identified skills gaps to his Department or a Minister, by year and body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12181/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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It is the responsibility of chairpersons of Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department to identify any skills gaps on the Board concerned.

Under section 4 of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, Boards of State Bodies are required to undertake a self-assessment annual evaluation of its own performance and that of its Board committees. Evaluation of the Board should consider the balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the State body on the Board, its diversity, including gender, how the Board works together as a unit, and other factors relevant to its effectiveness.

The Code also states that Board members should have the appropriate skills and knowledge, updated as required, appropriate to the activities of the State body, to enable them to discharge their respective duties and responsibilities effectively. This should include the identification by the Board of any gaps in competencies and ways these gaps could be addressed through future appointments.

All appointments through the State Boards process identify the particular skill sets which are being sought, following discussion with the Department and the body concerned.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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800. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of his Department, at least one member of the audit and risk committee of that board has recent, relevant financial experience for each of those years; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to the year or years where no so such member existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that my Department does not keep such records, which would be a matter for the public body concerned.

In accordance with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies: Audit and Risk Committee Guidance, it is the responsibility of the Board of a State body to establish an Audit and Risk Committee, to ensure that there are effective arrangements in place in the State body for governance, risk management and internal control.

Under its Model Terms of Reference for Audit and Risk Committees, the guidance states that the Audit and Risk Committee should collectively possess an appropriate range of skills to perform its functions to the required standard. This may vary according to the nature and size of the organisation, but at least one member of the Audit and Risk Committee should have recent, relevant financial experience and other members should have experience in the core areas of its business including risk management, internal audit, governance, relevant technical or specialist issues, an understanding of the public sector environment, in particular the accountability structures, and current public sector reform initiatives.

James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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801. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to confirm that for each year between 2020 and 2025 in respect of the boards of bodies under the aegis of his Department, that the board has a terms of reference; where that is not the case, to identify that body, by reference to year or years where no terms of reference existed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12217/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The preparation of terms of reference for Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Boards of those State Bodies.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies states that Boards should, using their high level functions and duties as a guide, prepare customised terms of reference for the Board. The Code includes a model Board Terms of Reference setting out what should be included, to assist Boards prepare their terms of reference, and customise them where necessary. Additionally, the model terms of reference contains a paragraph stating that the Board shall, at least once a year, review its own performance, constitution and terms of reference to ensure it is operating at maximum effectiveness and implement any changes it considers necessary.