AILG calls for renewed engagement to resolve public service pay dispute
14 October 2026
The Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) has expressed its support for public service workers taking industrial action today and has called on all sides to return to the negotiating table to reach a fair and sustainable agreement on public service pay.
AILG particularly recognises the contribution of local authority employees across the country, who work closely with elected councillors and communities every day in delivering essential public services. From housing, roads and planning to environmental services, libraries, community development, emergency response and many other frontline services, local authority staff play a critical role in supporting communities and maintaining essential local services.
The pressures facing the sector also need to be viewed in the context of local government staffing levels. Employment figures in the local government sector stood at approximately 35,987 in 2008, falling to 30,000 in 2012, and recovering to approximately 32,647 in 2025. This means that, despite the considerable expansion in the responsibilities and workload of local authorities, staffing remains below its 2008 level.
Local government has therefore been required to respond to significant additional demands in areas including housing delivery, climate action, planning, community development and emergency management while its overall staffing complement has not returned to its pre-financial-crisis level.
AILG President Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke said:
“As elected councillors, we see at first hand the commitment of local authority staff in every county and city. They work alongside our members and deal directly with the public every day, often in demanding circumstances, to provide the services upon which our communities depend.
“It is particularly important to recognise that local government is delivering an increasingly broad range of services and responsibilities while the number of people employed in the sector remains below the level recorded in 2008. In very simple terms, our local authority workforce is being asked to deliver more, and increasingly complex services, with fewer staff than the sector had almost two decades ago.
“Industrial action is difficult for workers, employers and the public, and nobody wants to see disruption to essential public services continue. We therefore appeal to all sides to re-engage constructively and urgently. There must be a willingness to listen, negotiate and find common ground so that a fair and sustainable agreement can be reached.”
AILG acknowledges the legitimate concerns of public service workers regarding pay and the cost of living, while also recognising the importance of maintaining essential public services and achieving an agreement that is sustainable for the wider public finances.
The Association is therefore calling for meaningful engagement and a renewed focus on negotiation, with the objective of resolving the current dispute as quickly as possible.
ENDS
For Media Enquiries please contact Tommy Moylan, Executive Director AILG at 086-8236386 or t.moylan@ailg.ie