Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
288. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if there is a specific policy within her Department that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from any boards that she may appoint; the rationale behind any such policy; the way in which it aligns with encouraging participation in local government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52852/26]
View answerI can confirm that my Department does not have a specific policy that seeks to preclude those elected to local authorities from serving on State Boards.
My Department manages appointments to its State Boards in accordance with DPER’s Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards (2014) and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies (2016), as amended, in conjunction with the relevant governing legislation or other legal document that applies to my Department’s State Bodies. Neither the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies nor the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards prescribes specific exclusions from State board membership
The governing legislation for each State body, specifies the composition of the board and, where applicable, any eligibility requirements or disqualifications from appointment or continued membership. Accordingly, the specific provisions or articles governing Board membership vary from one body to another.
While appointments are formally made by me as Minister, they are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. In several instances, the governing legislation of a state body provides for nominations to be made by specified organisations, and such nominations are considered in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions.
The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages an open, transparent and accessible process to support Ministers in making appointments to State boards. Vacancies advertised through this process are open to all members of the public and are published on the State Boards website, www.stateboards.ie
