[Ireland] Lowest-paid public sector workers set to gain 18.3% pay rise in €5.2bn deal

In Ireland, public sector workers on the lowest incomes are set to receive a pay rise of up to 18.3 per cent as trade unions and the Government reach a €5.2 billion deal that will see wage increases spread across the next two-and-a-half-years, Eastern Daily Press reports.

A planned public sector strike on October 12 was suspended after trade unions agreed a new draft pay deal with the Government.

The talks reportedly concluded in the early hours of October 11; the proposals will deliver public sector pay increases of 10.75 per cent over two years and nine months in a deal extending to March 2029.

Unions representing the public sector will review the new pay agreement in the coming days. Then the unions will ballot their members on whether to accept the deal.

Under the agreement, the starting salary for gardaí will increase by €5,722 from €39,194 per year to €44,916 per year.

Jack Chambers - Ireland’s Minister for Public Expenditure - said that the starting pay for a cleaner will increase by 18.3 per cent over the course of the agreement, special needs assistants (SNAs) will gain 17.2 per cent, and a general operative or a healthcare assistant will see their pay rise by 15.4 per cent.

An enhanced nurse starting pay will go up by 13.3 per cent, primary or secondary school teachers will gain 13 per cent or 12.8 per cent, and clerical officers will receive an increase of 17.1 per cent.

Mr Chambers said, “Those on the lowest incomes will receive up to 18.3% over the lifetime of this agreement, inclusive of the local bargaining provision, with minimum benefit for public servants over the life term of the proposed agreement cumulatively at 11.3%.

“I think that reflects the prioritisation of both Government and trade unions towards low-middle income workers, in particular, who are faced with pressures from the cost of living.”

He added that the total cost amounts to €5.2 billion, spread across 2026 and ending in 2030 in terms of the expenditure implications.

The minister said, “This is a real balance. I think we all want to see priority given to low-middle income workers in the public service who have cost pressures, and we have heard that issue.

“But just in terms of the wider issues, we’re absolutely clear that this is sustainable and affordable for the public finances.

“We haven’t changed our medium-term fiscal and structural plan. I haven’t changed how we agreed and settled the budget for 2027, and we’re still left with a contingency in 2027 to manage other expenditure pressures, which ultimately emerge in any given year.”

Source: Eastern Daily Press

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Ireland, public sector workers on the lowest incomes are set to receive a pay rise of up to 18.3 per cent as trade unions and the Government reach a €5.2 billion deal that will see wage increases spread across the next two-and-a-half-years, Eastern Daily Press reports.

A planned public sector strike on October 12 was suspended after trade unions agreed a new draft pay deal with the Government.

The talks reportedly concluded in the early hours of October 11; the proposals will deliver public sector pay increases of 10.75 per cent over two years and nine months in a deal extending to March 2029.

Unions representing the public sector will review the new pay agreement in the coming days. Then the unions will ballot their members on whether to accept the deal.

Under the agreement, the starting salary for gardaí will increase by €5,722 from €39,194 per year to €44,916 per year.

Jack Chambers - Ireland’s Minister for Public Expenditure - said that the starting pay for a cleaner will increase by 18.3 per cent over the course of the agreement, special needs assistants (SNAs) will gain 17.2 per cent, and a general operative or a healthcare assistant will see their pay rise by 15.4 per cent.

An enhanced nurse starting pay will go up by 13.3 per cent, primary or secondary school teachers will gain 13 per cent or 12.8 per cent, and clerical officers will receive an increase of 17.1 per cent.

Mr Chambers said, “Those on the lowest incomes will receive up to 18.3% over the lifetime of this agreement, inclusive of the local bargaining provision, with minimum benefit for public servants over the life term of the proposed agreement cumulatively at 11.3%.

“I think that reflects the prioritisation of both Government and trade unions towards low-middle income workers, in particular, who are faced with pressures from the cost of living.”

He added that the total cost amounts to €5.2 billion, spread across 2026 and ending in 2030 in terms of the expenditure implications.

The minister said, “This is a real balance. I think we all want to see priority given to low-middle income workers in the public service who have cost pressures, and we have heard that issue.

“But just in terms of the wider issues, we’re absolutely clear that this is sustainable and affordable for the public finances.

“We haven’t changed our medium-term fiscal and structural plan. I haven’t changed how we agreed and settled the budget for 2027, and we’re still left with a contingency in 2027 to manage other expenditure pressures, which ultimately emerge in any given year.”

Source: Eastern Daily Press

(Quotes via original reporting)