Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

There have been two reports from the public service benchmarking body. The increases recommended in the first report of the body were implemented in my Department in the following manner: the first 25% of the recommended increase was paid in June 2003 with effect from 1 December 2001. The total cost to December 2003 was approximately €405,000. A further 50% of the recommended increase was paid from 1 January 2004 at an approximate cost of €491,000 for that year. The final 25% of the recommended increase was paid from 1 June 2005 at an approximate cost of €150,000 for that year. The annual cost of full implementation is approximately €900,000.

The second report of the public service benchmarking body recommended an increase of 1.1% for the grade of principal officer. No other increase was recommended in respect of general Civil Service grades. No payment has been made to date by my Department in respect of this recommendation, the estimated annual cost of which to my Department would be €26,000.

Pay increases recommended by the public service benchmarking body are conditional on delivery of real and verifiable outputs regarding modernisation and flexibility.

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