Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Public Service Benchmarking.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

216 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the details of benchmarking awards and implementation dates of same which will be made to public service pensioners that have so far been agreed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7920/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The details of the benchmarking awards are set out in the report of the Public Service Benchmarking Body which was published on 30 June 2002. When setting up the Public Service Benchmarking Body in 2000, I announced that the implementation of the benchmarking body's recommendations would be discussed between the parties within the context of any successor to the programme for prosperity and fairness which might be agreed between the social partners or whatever other arrangements might be in place on the expiry of the programme.

As regards payment of the awards, the new social partnership agreement – Sustaining Progress – provides, subject to ratification of the agreement, that one quarter of the increases recommended by the Public Service Benchmarking Body will be paid with effect from 1 December 2001. It also provides for the payment of the balance of the increases recommended by the Public Service Benchmarking Body on the following basis: 50% of the increases from 1 January 2004 and 25% from 1 June 2005. Payment of the final two phases of the increases is subject to the verification procedures included in the agreement.

Subject to the ratification of the agreement, agreed increases arising from the report of the benchmarking body will be passed on to relevant pensioners in accordance with existing pensions increase policy.