22.—(1) Subject to subsection (5), members of a Voluntary Youth Council shall number not less than 10 and not more than 20 as the F21[education and training board] determines.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), a person engaged in the provision of a youth work programme or a youth work service shall be eligible for election to a Voluntary Youth Council, provided that, as far as practicable, persons who are employees of an approved national voluntary youth work organisation or a designated local voluntary youth work organisation or an authorised organisation shall not constitute more than one quarter of the total membership of the Voluntary Youth Council.

(3) An employee of an approved national voluntary youth work organisation, a designated local voluntary youth work organisation or an authorised organisation shall be eligible for election to a Voluntary Youth Council only if his or her principal place of employment is in the F21[education and training board area] concerned.

(4) As far as practicable, at least one-fifth of the membership of a Voluntary Youth Council shall consist of persons who were young persons at the date of their election.

(5) (a)  F21[An education and training board] may, with the consent of the Minister and in accordance with such regulations and guidelines as may be issued by the Minister following consultation with the National Youth Work Advisory Committee, issue directions in relation to the election of persons to a Voluntary Youth Council.

(b)  Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a), directions issued under that paragraph may refer to all or any of the following:

(i) voting procedures,

(ii) the classification and nomination of candidates,

(iii) the appointment of a returning officer for the election of members to a Voluntary Youth Council,

(iv) the requirements for holding a poll or deeming persons elected where the number of candidates is less than or equal to the number of members to be elected to a Voluntary Youth Council,

(v) the number, in accordance with subsection (1), of members to be elected,

(vi) the qualification of electors,

(vii) the voluntary youth work organisations that may nominate persons for election in relation to the classification of candidates,

(viii) the voluntary youth work organisations that may elect members in relation to the classification of candidates,

(ix) the filling of casual vacancies, and

(x) the declaration of the polls.

(6) A voluntary youth work organisation referred to in subsection (5)(b)(vii) shall, in nominating candidates for an election under this section, make the nominations in accordance with such gender balance as may be determined from time to time by the Minister.

(7) In issuing directions under subsection (5), F21[an education and training board] shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that persons engaged in the provision of youth work programmes or youth work services for young persons within the travelling community are represented on Voluntary Youth Councils.

(8) In issuing directions under subsection (5), F21[an education and training board] which functions in a Gaeltacht area, shall have regard to the desirability of ensuring that persons engaged in the provision of youth work programmes or youth work services for young persons in the Irish language in the said Gaeltacht are represented on Voluntary Youth Councils.

(9) F21[An education and training board] is responsible for the organisation and supervision of elections to the Voluntary Youth Council for its F21[education and training board area].

(10) The term of office of a Voluntary Youth Council is such period as the F21[education and training board] determines but, subject to this section, members are eligible for re-election.