Austin Currie
Ceist:28 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to introduce performance-linked rewards for public servants along the lines operating in Britain.
Written Answers. - Performance Linked Awards for Public Servants.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:44 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Finance the up-to-date position on the payment of merit pay in the public service.
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:53 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to introduce performance-linked rewards for public servants along the lines operating in Britain.
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:60 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to introduce performance-linked rewards for public servants along the lines operating in Britain.
Michael Creed
Ceist:63 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to introduce performance-linked rewards for public servants along the lines operating in Britain.
John Bruton
Ceist:118 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to introduce performance-linked rewards for public servants along the lines operating in Britain.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 44, 53, 60, 63 and 118 together.
In line with a recommendation of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector in Report No. 30, a system of performance-related pay applies in the civil service to the grade of Assistant Secretary and some other grades at that level. There is a pay range for these grades and individuals progress through the range by reference to annual assessment of performance which takes account of pre-determined work objectives. Report No. 35 of the Review Body recommended that the system for Assistant Secretaries be replaced by one consisting of an incremental scale plus bonus for performance assessed as exceptional. While this recommendation has been accepted in principle by the Government, actual implementation will have to await developments in the wider context of how claims for improvement in pay and conditions are to be handled under theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress pay agreement. The question of extending the application of performance-related pay is under consideration by reference to the needs of the service here rather than by comparison with other administrations.