The next round of local bargaining negotiations in the Civil Service will begin today, with Fórsa due to meet with representatives from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. 

The Engineers grade claim was lodged last year and follows a similar model to other claims submitted by the union, seeking removal of points on the Engineer scales, removal of waiting times for long service increments (LSI), and increases to the maximum points on the scale. 

The Engineer grade is considered a ‘marker grade’ as a range of professional grades, not only in the Civil Service, but in the wider public service are directly linked to Civil Service Engineers pay scales. 

Deputy general secretary and head of the Civil Service division Éamonn Donnelly expressed cautious optimism about the talks. He said: “Now that the first phase of local bargaining claims for COs, AOs, EOs and HEOs have come into effect, we are on a good footing for these talks. Nonetheless it is vital that we make progress in a timely fashion as members have been waiting for this since last year.” 

The application of the first set of pay adjustments for civil servants, agreed under the local bargaining clause of the Public Service Agreement 2024–2026, came into effect following publication of the Government’s latest pay circular.  

The new pay arrangements will apply from 1st September 2025, following approval of the proposals by Fórsa members in a ballot that closed in December.  

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