Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount paid in bonuses to anyone under the jurisdiction of his Department for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37352/08]

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 table below illustrates the performance related awards paid to Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades for the years 2006 and 2007. Performance-related awards have yet to be paid for 2008.

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 table below outlines the awards paid under the scheme for the years 2005 and 2006. These awards for 2007 and 2008 have yet to be paid.

With regard to state agencies under the aegis of my Department, the payment of bonuses is a matter for the bodies themselves and the Deputy should request the information directly from them.