Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 538: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the bonuses awarded by his Department to staff members for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007; the number and proportion of staff in receipt of bonuses for each of those years; the average bonus paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31993/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There are two bonus schemes operating in my Department. The first is a scheme of performance-related awards that applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. The following table illustrates the performance related awards paid to Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance www.finance.gov.ie.

The Minister for Finance, with effect from 1 November 1998, sanctioned expenditure of not more that 0.2% of Subhead A.1 Salaries, Wages and Allowances, in respect of ex-gratia payments or other awards to individual staff members or groups of staff by way of recognition for exceptional performance of duty. Awards under this provision can be made to all grades below Assistant Secretary level. The following table outlines the awards paid for exceptional performance for the years 2005 and 2006. Approximately 44% and 57% of my Department's overall staffing complement received awards in 2005 and 2006 respectively. Exceptional performance awards for 2007 have yet to be paid.