Vol. 562 No. 1
144 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Finance the performance related awards which were paid in January 2003 in respect of performance in 2002; the cost to the Exchequer; and the key achievements which gave rise to these payments. [5468/03]
Following the recommendations of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in its report dated 25 September 2000, the Government decided to replace the then existing scheme in the Civil Service with a new scheme of performance-related awards and to introduce the new scheme in the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The new scheme applies to Civil Service posts at the levels of assistant secretary and deputy secretary and to comparable posts in the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The scheme applies with effect from 1 January 2002 in the Civil Service and with effect from 1 May 2002 in the other areas.
Decisions on performance-related awards for individual posts will be made by the Committee of Performance Awards based on recommendations from Secretaries General in the case of the Civil Service, the Garda Commissioner or the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces. The committee comprises the Secretary General, public service management and development, Department of Finance, the Secretary General to the Government and three members from the private sector. Decisions on awards will be based on an assessment of performance against pre-set objectives. The individual objectives will vary from area to area, but will go beyond the normal requirements of the jobs and will be derived from the strategy statements for the organisations.
The funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit payments of up to 20% can be made to individuals. The amount available for awards is in the region of €2 million. The awards in respect of 2002 are under consideration at present and decisions have not yet been made.
