Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Finance the action taken to create a unified public service labour market; the details of the review to revise contractual and other arrangements as specified in the public service agreement 2010-14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47958/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2008 the OECD Review of the Irish Public Service identified the need to move towards a more integrated Public Service. This would involve networked approaches to working with increased flexibility for workers. The report of the Task Force on the Public Service, Transforming Public Services , endorsed the need for a more integrated Public Service and a move to a unified labour market as a way of heightening the service-wide identity of Public Servants. This would include removing barriers to movement between different sectors and organisation in the Public Service as a means of promoting deeper collaboration, and putting in place the means to redeploy employees across existing boundaries to areas of greatest priority.

The Croke Park Agreement provides that, to the greatest extent possible, there will be standardised terms and conditions of employment across the Public Service with the focus initially within sectors. The redeployment arrangements in the Croke Park Agreement will be used to ensure flexibility in the deployment of staff in light of the reduced numbers. The sectoral Action Plans outline the initial programme of changes proposed by management to achieve the reforms, efficiencies and savings needed in each sector, including where appropriate, standardisation of non-pay conditions. I expect Public Service managements to pursue vigorously the changes proposed for their sectors.

Transforming Public Services also recommended the establishment of a Senior Public Service aimed at developing and managing Public Service leaders and reinforcing Public Service values and a system-wide identity. The Government has decided to proceed with this recommendation, with the Senior Public Service being established initially in the Civil Service before being extended to the wider Public Service.

In Budget 2010 I announced the introduction of a new single pension scheme for new entrants to the Public Service in 2011. Relevant legislation is in the course of preparation. The new scheme will be based on a career-average system and later pension age and will reduce longer-term pension costs significantly.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Finance the performance management systems implemented in his Department as specified in the public service agreement 2010-14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47966/10]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Performance Management System in operation in my Department is the Performance Management Development System (PMDS) introduced throughout the Civil Service on foot of General Council Report 1452. The Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 contains a commitment 'to introduce significantly improved performance management across all Public Service areas, and following the current review, the Performance Management and Development System will be strengthened with promotion and incremental progression linked in all cases to performance and the implementation of appropriate systems to address under-performance, including, where appropriate, training or, where necessary, through disciplinary procedures".

In the civil service work is well underway on achieving this goal. The 2010 Evaluation of PMDS has been completed. Negotiations with the Unions have commenced in relation to how the PMDS can be strengthened.

Performance management in the civil service is already linked to promotion and to incremental progression and the systems in place to address underperformance are now being assessed.