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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - Public Service Benchmarking Body.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

24 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date by the Public Service Benchmarking Body; when he expects that the body will begin to report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/01]

The Public Service Benchmarking Body was established on 19 July 2000 following discussions between public service employers and unions as provided for under the terms of the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. It has been asked to report by end-June 2002. The body has met the unions and employers and has received submissions from the two sides on both general matters and in relation to specific groups who are being reviewed.

The body is undertaking its own research at present. This involves consultants and the body's own secretariat evaluating jobs in the public service. This process has been arranged with the co-operation of both the unions and employers. Following a tendering process and interviews with interested firms, contracts were awarded recently to six firms – Hay, Mercer, Inbucon UK, Watson-Wyatt, Alpha and Fitzpatrick Associates. These companies will be researching pay determination practice across the economy and evaluating the work, pay and conditions of employees using a common job evaluation scheme which has been specifically devised for this purpose by the benchmarking body. The body also has the assistance of an internal expert consultancy, MCG Consulting, to advise on and continuously audit its processes, the research and ensure best practice.
It is envisaged that oral hearings will take place with the employers and unions in the autumn to winter after this research is completed. The arrangements for these oral hearings are under discussion at present with the unions and employers. After these hearings the body will begin drafting its report with a view to finalising it by the target date of end-June 2002. I have been assured by the body that it will meet this deadline.
It was agreed under the PPF that a quarter of any increase recommended for any group would be paid with effect from 1 December 2001 with the balance to be paid in accordance with arrangements to be negotiated between the unions and employers after the report is completed.
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