Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost of bonus payments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amount set aside in her Department for bonus payments in 2009; if she will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4833/09]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Performance Related Awards Scheme (PRA) was introduced following a decision by the Government on the implementation of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA) and its latest report (2007), detailing the background and operation of the scheme and providing information on payments made in 2008 in respect of 2007 is available at:

http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2008/cpareport07final.pdf. No payments have been made to eligible officers in my Department in respect of performance in 2008 and 2009.

In addition an Exceptional Performance Award scheme is open to staff at Principal Officer level and below. No exceptional performance awards were made in 2008 and the scheme is currently under review.