Donohue to ask Ministers to forego €12,000 pay boost after public backlash

It seems that Government Ministers will not be getting a pay rise out of the Budget after all.

They had been due to get a €12,000 boost over the next three years as part of a pay restoration deal.

However, Public Expenditure Minister Pascal Donohoe is to ask them to waive the rise after public outcry.

The Irish Independent, which breaks the story today, claims that Ministers' pay is to be frozen at €157,000, with no increases next year.

Ministers would have been due a pay rise of €3,911 on April 1.

It is understood Mr Donohoe's appeal will only be extended to Ministers, and not to all TDs, who are due a €2,700 pay rise next year and again in 2018.

Addressing the issue of pay rises yesterday, Mr Donohue (pictured) said: "I absolutely understand that perception and I'm so keenly aware of the hurt and anxiety that's been caused to so many people after all that we went through."