Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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536. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress on incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8682/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Progression on incremental salary scales in my Department is managed in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars on the matter. The majority of increments are awarded on the basis of a single point per annum, subject to relevant performance criteria being met. Over the course of the Haddington Road Agreement (HRA), incremental progression has been further adjusted, extending the period for qualifying increments by a further 3, 6 or 12 months, depending on salary levels, and suspension of increments for 3 years for those on salary scales starting over €100,000. Full details of increments and related balancing measures are set out in Paragraphs 2.16 to 2.23 of the HRA.

Two exceptions to the standard single point per annum incremental progression arise for Meteorologists and Statisticians in my Department. In these cases, after an officer has completed three years’ service in the grade, the Head of the Division must review the officer’s record of service and capability to discharge the highest duties of the grade of Meteorologist or Statistician. As soon as the Head of the Division certifies, as a result of such review, that the officer’s efficiency and record of service are such as to warrant extra recognition, the officer will receive advancement on the scale of three additional increments, i.e., by four increments in all. In the case of Meteorologists the officer will be required to complete a language proficiency test in two of the following languages, French, German and Russian to enable the officer to read with ease technical publications in the corresponding languages. There are currently 2 Statisticians and 35 Meteorologists serving in my Department to whom these particular provisions may apply.