The Government has agreed to Public Sector wage rises over the next 2 years. They have also agreed to reduce outsourcing by not allowing the cost of wages to be compared when deciding. It is essential that public services are provided as efficiently as possible and there should be more outsourcing, not less. The decision to do it should be based on a proper cost comparison, including salaries and pensions.

Wicklow Council has reduced staff by 25% and most of this gap should be made up by outsourcing tasks using a proper cost comparison. Ireland has a very low amount of outsourcing and we need to be better at providing public services.