673. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is responsible for all board appointments where such power to appoint persons to State boards is vested in her by statute; if any politically appointed State employee outside of her Department is involved in decision-making concerning such appointments, in particular, if, during the lifetime of the Government, a named person (details supplied) has had any influence over any appointments made by her; if she or officials from her Department have corresponded with that person regarding the composition of, and appointments to, State boards to which she has statutory power to make appointments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30108/15]

Department officials will check records relating to board appointments and I will revert to you should any relevant information be located.

I should like to make the Deputy aware that comprehensive information in relation to the composition of the boards of non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills, which includes information on the board appointments where I as Minister have power to appoint can be downloaded from my Department's website at www.education.ie/en/The-Department/Agencies/Details-of-Membership-of-State-Boards/Board-Members.pdf.

For the Deputy's information, in accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises for board vacancies as they arise where I as Minister for Education and Skills have nominating rights. Applications are made through the dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, and an assessment process is undertaken by PAS leading to the creation of a list of candidates deemed suitable for appointment to boards.

Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website www.per.gov.ie.