I recognise and deeply value the hugely important work, dedication and professionalism of public servants who deliver vital services in communities across the country. I see this in my work daily, and every citizen in our State interacting with our public services experiences this too.

Investing in our public service workforce is fundamental to delivering high-quality public services. It enables Government to meet the needs of a growing population across key areas such as health, education and justice and other key services.

Ensuring we can continue to attract and retain talented public servants remains central to my commitment to maintaining excellence in public service delivery.

Since 2020 the public service pay bill has increased by €12 billion, reaching €34 billion in 2026 – an increase of 55 per cent. Through this investment, the numbers employed in the public service have already exceeded 420,000 this year. This represents an increase of more than 70,000 since 2020.

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This Government is committed to being a good employer and seeks to provide competitive terms and conditions........

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