Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Taoiseach the performance management systems implemented in his Department as specified in the Public Service Agreement 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48322/10]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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A Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) was introduced for the Civil Service, including my Department, in 2000 and has been subject to ongoing evaluation and improvement since then. In 2002, the system was expanded to include Upward Feedback, and in 2005 agreement was reached between management and staff unions to integrate PMDS with wider HR policies and processes from 1 January 2007. Under this agreement, PMDS appraisals and ratings were linked directly to promotions, increments and higher scale posts. This integrated system has been operating in my Department since then.

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 have begun with the unions in relation to how PMDS can be strengthened. My Department is committed to implementing initiatives which may arise from these negotiations.