Mary Hurley has been appointed as the new Secretary General at the Department of Rural and Community Development.

– New appointees also announced recently to Pobal board

The announcement was made yesterday by Minister Heather Humphreys.

A UCD graduate, she previously served as an assistant secretary at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. She held responsibility for policy areas such as local government, fire and emergency management, homelessness, regeneration, community and rural development.

• Mary Hurley pictured at an event in Roscrea in 2015 when she worked with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Pic by Ben Panter, Changing Ireland.

A statement issued by the Department stated, “Over the course of her career, Ms Hurley has worked across a number of departments, including the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, where she played a key role in the 1916 commemorations.”

It added: “Ms Hurley was appointed to the position of Secretary General following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service and the Top Level Appointments Committee.”

Minister Humphreys said she was looking forward to working with Ms Hurley: “Mary has gained a wealth of experience across the public service and I have no doubt she will make a significant contribution to her role as Secretary General.”

Ms. Hurley was preceded by Kevin McCarthy who, in January, was appointed Secretary General of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

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Six new recent appointments to Pobal’s board

In mid-February, Minister Humphreys announced six new members of Pobal’s board, namely: Dr. Breda McTaggartt, John Curran (not the former minister),  Niall Garvey,  Derville Brennan, Sean Sheridan and  Pat Bennett.

Pobal works with the Department of Rural and Community Development, among other government departments, to support social inclusion and local and community development – delivering around 40 programmes, schemes and services on behalf of five government departments and other bodies. In 2021 it distributed €765 million to local and national community organisations.

Niall Garvey is CEO of Muintir na Tíre. Dr. Breda McTaggart is the head of the Department of Social Sciences in IT Sligo. John Curran is the manager of Donegal Volunteer Centre. Sean Sheridan is a retired public servant who spent most of his career with Donegal Co Co. Pat Bennett, now retired from a HSE chief officer post, previously served as the head of the Family Support Agency.

The board’s chairperson is Rosarii Mannion.

Pobal’s full board membership details are listed on its website: www.pobal.ie