Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the performance management systems implemented in his Department as specified in the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47961/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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The integrated Performance Management Development System (PMDS), which provides for minimum rating thresholds that must be attained before an officer can receive an increment or be considered eligible for promotion/higher scale, has operated in my Department since 2007.

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 under way on achieving this goal. The 2010 Evaluation of PMDS has been completed and 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.

Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff working within his Department who are employed on a short-term, temporary or consultative basis in the years 2009 and 2010; the costs of payment to such staff in each of those years; the number of any such staff who have been previously employed in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47975/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, it is necessary from time to time to employ staff on a temporary contract basis where the work in question may be seasonal, have specific objective grounds and is time bound.

In 2009, a total of 22 persons were employed in my Department on the basis referred to by the Deputy at a cost of €799,433. A total of 28 persons were employed on that basis in 2010 at a cost of €742,402. The increase of 6 persons reflects the transfer of new functions to my Department in March 2010. The number of staff currently employed on the basis described by the Deputy is 15. It should be noted that the figures include service officers and Ministerial office staff whose contracts are coterminous with the terms of appointment of the Ministers in question.