Where things stand
The last increase under the old agreement, 1%, was paid on 1 June 2026. Since the agreement ended on 30 June 2026, no further general increase is scheduled until a successor is agreed between the Government and the public service unions.
Budget 2027 makes room for it. The Expenditure Report sets aside an additional €1.2 billion "to address all elements" of the 2024-2026 agreement "and any potential additional increases associated with a successor agreement". It adds that talks will take account of the State's finances and the need to keep the public pay and pensions bill sustainable.
So a new round of increases is expected, but its size and dates depend on the negotiations. When a new agreement is signed, we will update every one of our public sector pay scales with the new figures.
What the 2024-2026 agreement paid
| Date | General increase |
|---|---|
| 1 January 2024 | 2.25% or €1,125, whichever is greater |
| 1 June 2024 | 1% |
| 1 October 2024 | 1% or €500, whichever is greater |
| 1 March 2025 | 2% or €1,000, whichever is greater |
| 1 August 2025 | 1% |
| 1 February 2026 | 1% or €500, whichever is greater |
| 1 June 2026 | 1% |
The headline figure is 9.25% over two and a half years. Each increase applies to the salary already raised by the ones before, so the real total is a little more, about 9.6%, and the minimum amounts mean lower-paid grades gained more again.
| Basic salary on 31 December 2023 | After 1 June 2026 | Increase |
|---|---|---|
| €30,000 | €34,103 | +€4,103 (13.7%) |
| €45,000 | €49,558 | +€4,558 (10.1%) |
| €70,000 | €76,731 | +€6,731 (9.6%) |
These are the general increases only. Moving up a point on your scale each year, your increment, comes on top.
Local bargaining: the part left open
The agreement also allowed each sector to negotiate further changes worth up to 3% of basic pay, tied to changes in work practices or structures. The first instalment, worth 1% of the basic pay cost, was paid on 1 September 2025. The agreement says the balance "will fall to be addressed in any successor pay agreement", so it is part of what the next deal has to settle.
Public service pensions
Under the agreement that ended in June 2026, people retired under the older pension schemes get "pay parity": increases in basic pay generally pass on to their pensions. Pensions under the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, for people who joined from 2013, rise in line with inflation (CPI) instead.
Hiring in 2027
Budget 2027 also funds more public service jobs: 2,339 additional Special Needs Assistants, 1,353 additional teachers for children with special educational needs, and an intake of 850 new members of the Permanent Defence Force. Pay scales: SNA, primary teacher, Defence Forces.
Where this comes from
Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 (sections 1, 3 and 4), Department of Public Expenditure. Budget 2027 Expenditure Report (pay agreement provision and pensions, pages 22 to 25). Hiring: Your guide to Budget 2027. The salary examples apply the seven general increases in order, with their minimum amounts. Checked on 6 October 2026.
Pay rise 2027: common questions
Is there a public sector pay rise in 2027?
Not yet agreed. The Public Service Agreement 2024-2026 ended on 30 June 2026 and its successor is still to be negotiated. Budget 2027 set aside €1.2 billion to pay for it, so an increase is expected once a deal is reached.
When did the last public sector pay deal end?
On 30 June 2026. Its last general increase, 1%, was paid on 1 June 2026.
How much did public sector pay rise from 2024 to 2026?
By 9.25% in seven steps, about 9.6% once they compound, and more for lower-paid staff because of the minimum amounts: someone on €30,000 at the end of 2023 was on about €34,103 after June 2026.
What is local bargaining in the public sector?
Each sector could negotiate further changes worth up to 3% of basic pay. The first 1% was paid on 1 September 2025; the rest is left to the next pay agreement.
Do public service pensions go up with pay?
For the older schemes, under the agreement that ended in 2026, basic pay increases generally pass on to pensions (pay parity). Single Scheme pensions rise with inflation instead.