THE Department for Social Development paid out almost a quarter of a million pounds in bonuses to staff last year, new figures reveal.
The department paid out a total of £243,790 in bonuses throughout 2015, according to a Freedom of Information request seen by The Irish News.
An average of almost 100 bonus payments were made to staff every month in the 12 month period.
The 1,134 payments to staff ranged from £50 to £1,000, although the figures do not state whether any specific employees were paid more than one bonus in the year.
The bonuses covered all levels of staff, with administration officers receiving £85,265 and executive officers, which have two grades, sharing more than £100,000.
One hundred executive officers were paid bonuses of £350 each, while 13 deputy principal officers - whose salary is normally between £35,000 and £39,000 - received payments of £500.
Five employees classed as grade 7, who are paid between £46,000 and £51,000 per year, were rewarded with bonuses, with three of them receiving £1,000 each.
The Northern Ireland Civil Service handbook states that departments may make awards to individuals or to "a group of individuals to reward teamwork" and the amount granted will be a "matter for departmental judgement" although it should not exceed £1,000.
The guidance advises that there is no restriction on the amount of special bonuses awarded during one year, but that the cost "must be accommodated" within existing budgets.
A DSD spokeswoman said: "The Department is bound by the rules set out in the NICS Staff Handbook.
"The Special Bonus Scheme allows departments to reward exceptional performance in particularly demanding tasks or situations."
