My Department operates a Merit Award Scheme for grades up to and including Assistant Principal Officer. Last year my Department's Management Committee made a decision to restrict merit payments under this scheme to Service Officers/Attendants and grades represented by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU). Awards totalling €3,910 were made in December last under that scheme.
A total of €41,100 was paid to 3 Assistant Secretaries in my Department in early 2008 in respect of 2007. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards, which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance at the following link:
http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/CPArep2006.pdf.
No specific provision has been made in the 2009 estimate of my Department for bonus payments.