Dáil Éireann - Volume 681 - 28 April, 2009

Written Answers. - Departmental Staff.

Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the number of public servants in receipt of long service increments; the cost to the taxpayer of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16287/09]

  Deputy Brian Lenihan: Long service increments, payable after 3 and 6 years’ service on the maximum of the scale, were introduced as part of restructuring deals agreed for various grades under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work (PCW). Payment of such increments is dependent on the individual recipients attaining the appropriate rating under the Performance Management and Development System (PMDS).

[172] The following table lists the information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department and Offices under the aegis of my Department.

Organisation

Number of staff in receipt of long service increments

Cost

Department of Finance

175

€590,121

Office of the Revenue Commissioners

2,251

€3.9m

Office of Public Works

244

€778,576

Valuation Office

52

€198,591

State Laboratory

20

€51,000

Public Appointments Service

18

€57,707

Commission for Public Service Appointments

Nil

Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General

21

€75,836

Office of the Ombudsman

22

€72,500

Office of the Appeal Commissioner

Nil

It should be noted that in most cases, the amounts concerned represent the maximum cost in a full year. In the time available, it would not be possible to calculate the exact cost, having regard to the timing of the payments during the year, or if periods of unpaid leave were taken, which would impact on the timing of the increments.