Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 274: To ask the Minister for Finance the discussions he has had with public service unions in relation to strengthening performance management and delivery systems in the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1213/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. A meeting of the sub-committee of General Council on PMDS on which the Unions are represented took place on 2 December 2010 and further meetings are planned for early 2011.

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.