Amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, TDs are set to potentially receive a €6,500 pay increase as part of a new public sector pay deal.
All public sector workers are set to receive the 3% salary increase, which includes 12,000 nurse managers, as well as politicians like Dáil Deputies, Ministers and Senators.
The current salary of a TD is €101,193 – more than double the average industrial wage – meaning that the new annual salary for the position would be almost €108,000.
In addition, senators, who are paid €70,870, would see a new salary of €75,476.
The deal has not yet been ratified, though it was agreed this Tuesday, and it will go to a union ballot in the next few weeks.
As reported by the Independent, this could result in TDs being paid a lump sum of over €2,275 in November, backdated to February. This would also reportedly result in Senators seeing a similar lump payment of €1,600. If this is paid, it will be likely be done before Christmas.
Revealed: TDs in line for pay rise of more than €6,500 to bring salaries to nearly €108,000 https://t.co/fxOHilUMH8
— Irish Independent (@Independent_ie) August 31, 2022
While government ministers are eligible for the increase, they are able to refuse it, which has happened in the past. When the government coalition was first created, the parties involved agreed that ministers would return 10% of their salaries to the State every year, along with any pay increases they may be offered.
According to the Independent, a spokesman for the Taoiseach said that a decision had not yet been made regarding whether this practice would continue.
The development comes amid the ongoing cost of living crisis due to inflation and soaring energy costs,with Energy Minister Eamon Ryan describing the situation as an “absolute crisis” this week.
“People are not going to really see it coming until the bills hit in November, December, January and February,” he said.
“The way this war is looking, there is no end in sight and that’s the most frightening thing.”
At the start of the year in February, charities warned that households were being forced to choose between heat and food due to rising costs.
There is a “real danger of deepening poverty” and worsening inequality, unless Government measures to address increasing living costs are adequate, experts warnhttps://t.co/wRLN20XaBN
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) February 7, 2022
Costs are now set to rise considerably higher this winter, driving families closer to the brink financially.