Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

With regard to the detailed information sought by the Deputy, the range of individual awards varies. In 2007, for example, a total of 194 civil servants received awards ranging from €3,200 to €26,000. Details of awards made between 2002 and 2007 may be obtained by the Deputy from the annual reports of the committee, which are available.

On the more general issue, I have no role in decisions on awards. Each departmental secretary or equivalent agrees annual objectives with eligible members of his or her staff who opt into the scheme. At the end of each year, each Secretary General or equivalent submits recommendations to the Committee for Performance Awards on the level of award, if any, to be made to each participating individual, having regard to his or her performance against the pre-set objectives. Decisions on awards are made by the committee, which includes a majority of private sector members. The main roles of the committee are to monitor the application of the scheme and to bring independent judgement to bear in approving objectives for the persons covered by the scheme and in approving recommendations for awards.

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