Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount that has been awarded to persons in each local authority following the recent introduction of performance indicators; the areas of performance that have been rewarded and the reason therefor; the areas identified that have failed to meet the standard; the action envisaged in respect of these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21992/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 778: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount paid in bonus payments to staff in local authorities, on a county basis, following the introduction of performance indicators; if he will outline the indicators; the areas of performance that met the standards set and the areas that failed to meet pre-set standards; if reporting of performance by local authorities is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23150/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 778 together.

Following the recommendation of the review body on higher remuneration in the public sector, in its September 2000 report, a scheme of performance related awards was introduced in the local authority sector for managers, assistant managers and directors of services, commencing with the calendar year 2003. The operation of the scheme is monitored by a committee for performance awards, the specific functions of which are to: validate objectives established for managers, assistant managers and directors of services of local authorities; review self-assessments of performance by managers; decide on performance related payments for managers; approve recommendations made by managers for performance related payments to grades other than managers.

The committee's report on the operation of the scheme for 2003, including an outline of the requirements in regard to objectives and performance, is available on the website of my Department at www.environ.ie. A copy of the 2003 report has also been sent to the Oireachtas Library. The 2004 report will be available shortly.

Information naming officials and the individual amounts paid to them is deemed a personal record and, consequently, is not publicly available. However, the overall pool for performance awards is 10% of the pay bill for the grades concerned and, within the overall limit, individuals may receive payments of up to 20% of pay. In a separate initiative introduced in 2004, performance across local government against a series of 42 service indicators will be published annually and I expect to have the first report, for 2004, from the Local Government Management Services Board within the next month.