Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The benchmarking phases were implemented in my Department as follows: 25% of the increase from 1 December 2001 was paid in June 2003 — the total cost to December 2003 was approximately €405,000; 50% of the increase was paid from 1 January 2004 at an approximate cost of €491,000 for that year and, the final 25% of the increase was paid from 1 June 2005 at an approximate cost of €150,000 for that year. The full year cost of the increases in 2006 is estimated at €800,000.

Under the terms of Sustaining Progress, the pay increases recommended by the public service benchmarking body were conditional on delivery of real and verifiable outputs in regard to modernisation and flexibility. The key mechanisms for monitoring overall progress in this regard were the reports on action plans prepared by individual Departments and offices, a general review by the Department of Finance and verification by the Civil Service performance verification group. The performance verification group concluded that the progress achieved warranted payment to the grades concerned in my Department.

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