ISME highlights cost of benchmarking

PAY increases for public servants under the benchmarking process will leave taxpayers footing an extra €200 million above the projected cost.

A new report on benchmark for the business lobby ISME, conducted by economist Jim Power, has found that benchmarking should have increased the total public sector pay bill by €552 million in 2003; it actually added €592m.

In 2004, the extra cost should have been €151m, but Mr Power suggests it will be €306m and for 2005 and 2006 the cost of benchmarking will also be ahead of budget.