Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has appointed just five members of the public out of 190 who applied to sit on three key education boards under his remit.
None of the 49 people who applied through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to sit on the board of Léargas was ultimately appointed, his department has confirmed.
Of 60 applications for board positions on Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) through the public system, three were chosen. At the Higher Education Authority, two applications through the PAS system succeeded out of a total of 81.
In each case those selected by Mr Quinn include a number of board members with affiliations to Fine Gael or Labour.
At QQI those appointed include Jim Moore, a Fine Gael councillor for Co Wexford, and Joanne Harmon, education manager with the Health and Safety Authority and a former youth officer of Fine Gael. Mr Moore, along with chairman Gordon Clark and Dr Margaret Cullen, was appointed via the PAS system.
Léargas
James Doorley, assistant director of the National Youth Council and a former Labour candidate for the Seanad, was appointed to the board of Léargas last November. He said he was contacted by the department after it failed to get an official of the Department of Children to go on the board. He said he wasn’t paid a fee and didn’t claim expenses.
The HEA board includes Prof Anthony Staines of DCU, a Fine Gael supporter who has also been appointed by Minister for Health James Reilly to chair the Blood Transfusion Service Board. Mr Staines was directly appointed by the Minister for Education.
There is no suggestion that those appointed to the boards are not qualified for the position but the tiny number of appointments through the public system suggests Mr Quinn, along with some other Ministers, is largely overlooking applications from members of the public.
Transparency
The system was brought forward by the Government to promote greater transparency in appointments to State boards but its implementation across different departments appears to be uneven.
Mr Quinn’s spokeswoman pointed out that in making appointments he is not confined to those who express an interest through the public system and that he has to ensure that those appointed have the relevant skills and competencies for the positions.
