Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 6

Written Answers. - Benchmarking Awards.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

23 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Finance the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the Civil Service action plan drawn up to meet the requirements of the benchmarking process within his own Department and within the public service generally; if the Civil Service performance verification group has decided that the level of progress warrants the payment of the general round and the benchmarking award on 1 January 2004; if payments will be withheld in any sector due to failure to make adequate progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30090/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

In accordance with the procedures set out in Sustaining Progress, Departments and offices have submitted to the Civil Service performance verification group reports of progress made to date with the implementation of their respective action plans. The report from my own Department was submitted on 24 October, along with further supplementary information which was sought by the group and forwarded to them on 24 November.

The Civil Service performance verification group has been examining these progress reports, as well as a report on the Civil Service sector as a whole, with a view to deciding in relation to each organisation and grade under its remit whether the level of progress achieved warrants payment of the general round and benchmarking increases due on 1 January 2004. I expect that my Department will be informed shortly of the group's decisions.

Responsibility for providing information on the verification process in the other sectors of the public service rests with my colleagues, the Ministers for Health and Children; Education and Science; and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.