Public sector pay policy

Pay policy

Annual guidance on the application of public sector pay policy is endorsed by the Executive and published each year. The Executive’s Pay Policy, and associated pay remit approval process, applies to the staff costs of all NICS departments, agencies, NDPBs and other public bodies.

The Minister of Finance retains responsibility for monitoring; controlling and approving pay remits for the above staff groupings with the exception of pay remits relating to staff groups who have a clearly established legal requirement, such as a contractual entitlement e.g. to a nationally agreed pay award, which are approved at Departmental level. All public bodies, including NDPBs, are required to submit a pay remit pro forma and business case template to their parent department for approval or onwards submission to DoF Supply.  

Public bodies covered by the Executive’s Pay Policy must not enter into pay commitments or implement pay awards, including contractual commitments, prior to the appropriate approvals having been secured.

More information

More information on public sector pay policy can be found at:

• Department of Finance website