The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, has appointed eight new members to the board of Comhairle, the agency which supports the nationwide network of Citizens' Information Centres and which provides advisory services for people with disabilities.
Dr Donal de Buitleir, the former senior revenue official who subsequently became head of taxation at AIB, has been replaced as chairperson of the agency by Mr Tom Daly, regional development/European manager of the North Western Health Board.
Dr de Buitleir and seven others completed their three-year term of office as members of the board on June 11th.
Their replacement brings the total number of board members to 20, as specified in the Comhairle Act, 2000.
Five of the new appointments were nominated by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell.
They are Mr John Bosco Conama, a prominent figure in the deaf community and honorary secretary of the Irish Deaf Society; Ms Inez Bailey, a director of the National Adult Literacy Agency; Mr Nigel Brander, chairman of People with Disabilities in Ireland; Ms Caroline Casey, of the Aisling Foundation; and Mr Paul Hogan, a founder member of the Institute of Disability and Design.
Ms Clare Young, a volunteer with Limerick Citizens' Information Centre, was reappointed following her nomination by Ms Coughlan. Ms Mairín Byrne, an experienced teacher and rehabilitation worker who was nominated by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, was also reappointed.