asked the Minister for Finance the average rate of pay increase in (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector, in 1988.
Written Answers. - Pay Increases.
145.
The precise information sought by the Deputy is not available. In the absence of uniform timing of the application of the first phase of the Programme for National Recovery increase in the commercial state company area, it is not possible to calculate the average rate of pay increase in the overall public sector during 1988. However, in relation to the narrower public service, it is estimated, on the basis of the provisional Exchequer pay and pensions outturn for 1988, that public service pay increased at a rate of somewhat less than 4 per cent.
As regards the private sector, the data available from the Central Statistics Office in respect of the first half of 1988, when taken in conjunction with the application of the pay agreement associated with the Programme for National Recovery, indicates that the increase in average earnings in manufacturing was in the region of 4 per cent last year. The rate of pay increase in the remainder of the private sector is estimated to have been broadly the same.