Few pay increases in public sector in Ireland

Dublin- Salary increases have been recommended for just 15 out of 109 public service grades in the latest benchmarking report. The Public Service Benchmarking Body said it found that, in general, public service salaries at most levels compare well with the private sector. The increases for the 15 grades, which range from 1% or 2% to a maximum of 15% for a principal medical doctor, are mainly going to middle management, particularly in the health sector.

The cost of the increases are estimated at €50m a year. The pensions of public service groups are significantly more valuable than those of private sector groups, the report also said, worth the equivalent of 12% of salary. Public service unions have expressed strong disappointment at the report's recommendations. The primary teacher's union, the INTO, and the secondary teacher's union, the ASTI, both say their members will be dismayed and angry that no salary increase has been recommended. 'The joint submission made on behalf of all teachers clearly showed a significant gap between the lifetime earnings of teachers and those working in comparable careers in the public and private sectors,' ASTI said in a statement.
University teachers are also very unhappy that they will not be getting any pay rises.