Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
411 Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4826/09]
View answerI assume that the Deputy is referring to the scheme of performance-related awards for posts at the level of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Under this scheme, operated by the Department of Finance, the Central Committee for Performance Awards considers recommendations made by Secretaries General. Awards of €41,000 were made in 2008 in respect of performance in 2007, in accordance with the guidelines and rules governing the scheme. This total amount covered three Assistant Secretaries in my Department.
I can confirm that my Department has made no provision for bonus payments in 2009 and it is not envisaged that any such payments will be made during the year in respect of 2008.
For the sake of completeness, I should add that my Department also operated a Merit Award scheme in 2008. Under this scheme, and in accordance with my Department's agreed Administrative Budget, a total of 0.2% of the payroll allocation may be made available to staff in recognition of exceptional contribution or performance by individuals or teams. In 2008, a total of €12,950 (which was less than 43% of the available funds under the scheme) was awarded to teams across my Department in respect of performance during the year. No individual awards were made.
No specific provision has been made for a Merit Award scheme in 2009 and I anticipate that the matter will be discussed at my Department's Partnership Committee in the coming weeks.
