Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Finance the extent to which bonus payments have been paid to different grades in his Department and the amounts paid by way of bonus for each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2809/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Following recommendations made by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were formerly applicable to the grades of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary in the civil service. Payments were last made in 2008 in respect of the year 2007. Information on these payments is available in the Report of the Committee for Performance Awards which oversaw the scheme. The report is available on the website of my Department – www.finance.gov.ie Following my announcement on 5 February 2009 this award scheme has been terminated. No payments were made in respect of 2008 or subsequent years. Bonus payments have not been made to other staff of my Department.

In a comprehensive reply to a previous Parliamentary Question reference was made to special service payments and seniority allowances, averaging in the region of €2,000, made to some staff in the grades of Principal and Assistant Principal. While there were some suggestions that these were bonuses, the payments in question were made under the provision in the Agreement "Programme for Competitiveness and Work" whereby 1% of the payroll of the grades concerned was made available through local negotiation. Most Departments opted to use his provision in a manner which incorporated the payments into their payroll. In the Department of Finance, the amount available was used for special service payments and seniority payments for some staff. As indicated by the Taoiseach on 15 December last, these payments are not bonuses.

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Finance if promotion to middle management and higher grades in his Department is made by way of competition; if there have been any exceptions to this practice over the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2810/11]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Current arrangements provide that 90% and 85% respectively of promotions to the grades of Assistant Principal and Principal in my Department are made on a competitive basis. All promotions that occurred in the period referred to by the Deputy were made in accordance with these arrangements. Appointments to the post of Secretary General of my Department are made by the Government. Appointments to all other posts at Assistant Secretary level and above are made following competitions held by the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC). The Public Service Agreement 2010 – 2014 provides that merit-based competitive promotion will be the norm in the future.