[project.fired] Get rid of the dead wood

It sounds a little harsh, but don't be afraid to release bad developers just because they have been with the company a long time, because the interview process was lengthy and painful or because you paid the recruiter a lot of money to get them.  The entire team may be compensating for their lack of competence.  Provided they are meticulous, everyone is good at something, so perhaps try them in a different role.

Tip: Poor developers tend to misrepresent their skills, and good developers tend to underrate their skills.