Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 377: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the payments made to senior officials in his Department under the performance related pay scheme for each of the years 2005 to 2008, if he has approved the payments for 2008; if so, the date of this approval; the date of the approval of payments relating to 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14217/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The scheme of performance related awards in the Civil Service applies to the grades of Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Decisions on awards for officials that come within the remit of the scheme are made by the Committee for Performance Awards. Its membership comprises of the Secretary General to the Government, The Secretary General, Public Service Management & Development at the Department of Finance and members from the private sector.

In 2005 awards amounting to €90,000 were paid to 8 officials, in 2006 awards totalling €95,000 were made to 8 officials, in 2007 awards totalling €93,000 were made to 8 officials and in 2008 awards amounting €134,000 were paid to 9 officials at my Department based on recommendations made by the Committee. No payments to date have been made in 2009 in respect of the 2008 calendar year.

Awards made to individual officers under the scheme are not disclosed as they are confidential and personal to the officers concerned. Full details of the operation of the scheme since its inception are available on the Department of Finance's website at: www.finance.gov.ie.