Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 1185: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the bonuses that were paid to his staff for the year ending 31 December 2005; the amount of money that was paid; the way in which this was calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As I understand the question, I wish to confirm that no bonuses were paid to staff in my Department for the year ending 31 December 2005. My Department does, however, operate an exceptional performance awards scheme for staff below the grade of assistant secretary. The total amount available for payment of awards cannot exceed 0.2% of the Department's payroll from the sanctioned subheads. Individual and group awards may be made in respect of genuinely exceptional performance where regard is had to the nature and quality of the activities involved and to the circumstances under which they are carried out. Particular regard is paid to the grade level of the staff member concerned and where the work is considered to be over and above the high quality performance normally expected of such grades. While the figures for 2005 are not collated as yet it is likely that the average individual award would be less than €100.

Assistant secretaries and deputy secretaries are covered by a separate scheme of performance related awards. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the committee for performance awards. The funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit, payments of up to 20% can be made to individuals. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the scheme, the range of awards and the total amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the committee, available on the website www.finance.gov.ie.