78. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the growth in public service numbers since 2021, by sector and by frontline and non-frontline grades, in tabular form; and how this data is informing his approach to the next public service pay agreement. [74770/26]

The table below sets out the number of public service employees, in full time equivalent terms, by sector since 2021. The figures for 2026 are the latest available and reflect the position at end-June. This data, which was notified to my Department by the relevant organisations, is publicly available on the Department's website at http://databank.per.gov.ie/Public_Service_Numbers.aspx.

A breakdown by frontline and non-frontline grades is not available, as the classification of such grades varies across sectors and individual bodies.

Since 2021 there has been an overall growth of 15.9% or an average of 3% growth per annum.

The numbers data collated by DPER are a key input into how DPER estimates the costs associated with the next public service pay agreement. Costs of potential pay increases under a new public service pay agreement are determined using a whole of public service basis and are calculated using full-time equivalent staff numbers by salary band provided by relevant organisations in their quarterly returns to DPER.