asked the Minister for Finance for each of the years 1985 to 1987 inclusive, the amount by which public service pay costs exceeded the rate of inflation; the extra amount payable for each of the years by way of special pay increases; the extra amount payable by way of general pay increases; and the extra amount payable by way of incremental pay increases.

As regards the first part of the Deputy's question, the following table compares the increase in the size of the Exchequer Pay and Pensions Bill with the rate of inflation in the years 1985 to 1987.

The table below sets out the additional information requested by the Deputy.

The figures shown for the cost of increments are estimates based on the information available.

As regards the cost of special and general pay increases, the figures shown for each of the three years include the carry-over costs due to increases paid during the previous year and the costs of increases arising for the first time in that year.