‘Proposed agreement achieves the right balance’ – says McConalogue

Donegal Minister of State Charlie McConalogue has welcomed the suspension of the public sector strike following agreement on a draft pay deal by trade unions and Government at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

The draft Agreement runs for 33 months and the total cost amounts to €5.2 billion, from 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2029. The costs will be spread across five budgets.

The pay measures in the agreement are weighted towards those on lower incomes. Those on lowest incomes will receive up to 18.3 per cent over the lifetime of the Agreement, inclusive of the Local Bargaining provision and a minimum cumulative increase of 11.3 per cent.

“This proposed agreement achieves the right balance. It delivers meaningful increases for public servants, particularly those on lower and middle incomes, while protecting the public finances,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy said.

“Minister Chambers will now bring this proposed agreement to Government for approval and hopes that the proposals will be endorsed by public service unions and associations in the ballots that will follow. The proposed agreement delivers a fair and balanced deal for public servants and taxpayers alike.”

Minister McConalogue added: “All sides engaged constructively in recent weeks. The result is a proposed agreement that provides certainty, delivers significant pay improvements, and reflects the value we place on our public servants while remaining responsible and sustainable.”

“It will strengthen the Public Service’s ability to deliver reform, meet future challenges, support the delivery of vital infrastructure and national priorities, and ensure the efficient delivery of high-quality public services while making the best use of available resources and providing value for taxpayers,” he said.

Meanwhile, negotiations at the WRC concluded at 3.30am on Wednesday, November 11.