Rise in public sector staff numbers raises pay costs to nearly €32bn for this year

A new report by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Oireachtas’ independent economic analysis arm, said that there were 11,100  more  people working in the public sector at the end of June 2023 compared to the end of 2022. File picture

Ireland’s public sector and local authorities will cost €31.9bn to staff in 2024, with defence the only facet of the public service currently declining in size.

A new report by the Parliamentary Budget Office, the Oireachtas’ independent economic analysis arm, said that there were 11,100  more  people working in the public sector at the end of June 2023 compared to the end of 2022.