Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Finance if the Departmental schemes of performance related rewards have in all cases taken up the entire pool of 10% of the pay bill in each Department since it was instituted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45230/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Following a decision by the Government on the implementation of recommendations in Report No. 38 of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were introduced.

In the case of Government Departments the scheme applies to posts at the levels of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary. The first payments under the scheme were made in 2002.

The schemes of awards are based on performance by reference to demanding targets. The pool for performance awards is 10% of the pay bill for participating members of the group concerned. Within that overall limit individuals can receive payments of up to 20% of pay (although payments at that level would be very rare).

Since the introduction of the scheme the full pool or close to it has been applied in respect of persons participating in the scheme. The salaries of persons who are eligible to participate in the scheme but choose not to do so are not taken into account in calculating the pool.

I have no role in the decisions on awards. Decisions on awards are made by the Committee for Performance Awards, which includes a majority of private sector members. The main roles of the Committee are to monitor the application of the scheme of performance-related awards and to bring independent judgement to bear in approving objectives for the persons covered by the scheme and in approving recommendations for awards.

Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the schemes, 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.).