Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 567: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if county managers are entitled to bonus or performance related payments; the amount of these payments paid in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for each county; if there is a standard mechanism of calculating these payments; the mechanism used for calculating these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15135/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector (Part 2 of Report No.38 of September 2000 dealing with Rewarding Exceptional Performance) recommended the introduction of a performance related awards scheme for Managers, Assistant City Managers and Directors of Service of local authorities. Accordingly, a scheme was introduced in 2003, with the pool for performance awards set at 10% of the pay bill for the group concerned and with individual participants eligible to receive payments of up to 20% of pay. Details concerning awards made in 2006 and 2007 under the Performance Awards Scheme for the Local Government Sector are contained in the annual reports of the Committee which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Awards are defined in terms of their distribution as a percentage of pay, the range of monetary values, and the number of recipients.

Awards of 15% to 20% are only made in the most exceptional situations where performance has surpassed all reasonable expectations and has resulted in the achievement of a major goal of the local authority. Awards of more than 10% and up to 15% are only made where performance has substantially exceeded the targets defined. Awards of more than 5% and up to 10% are made where stretched targets have been fully met or exceeded (but not to a major degree). Awards of 0% to 5% are made where stretched targets have not been fully met.

No decision has been made regarding payment of performance awards for 2008.