Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2007
163 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of civil servants in each of the one to five performance brackets under the performance management and development system in 2006; the target allocation for each bracket in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31914/07]
View answerIn 2005, on foot of commitments in Sustaining Progress, management and unions reached agreement on the integration of the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) for the Civil Service with wider HR policies and processes, including assessment systems. In particular the ratings resulting from annual assessments will, in addition to their use for staff development purposes, now be linked to the awarding of annual increments, assignments to higher scales and access to promotion competitions. The annual assessment is based on a uniform five-point scale for all grades.
The integrated Performance Management and Development System was introduced in 2006 for training and familiarisation purposes only. Ratings based on assessments for 2007 (which have not yet been completed) will inform decisions relating to increments, higher scales and promotion. There is no target allocation for each rating. It would be expected that the greatest number of staff would be in category three, the middle bracket, with remaining staff falling into the other categories.
In any event, I consider that it would be inappropriate to specify by Department the number, or even the proportion, of staff who fall within the various categories. This could compromise both the operation of the Performance Management Development System within the civil service and the management function within individual Departments. In accordance with the arrangements agreed with the civil service unions, a formal evaluation of the revised model will commence in 2009.
