Three Wexford councillors have voiced serious concerns over the ongoing public-sector pay dispute, with one warning that ambulance services in the county could be reduced by 50% if Thursday's planned nationwide strike goes ahead.

Councillors Ger Carthy, Michael Sheehan and Jim Codd have been reacting to the Government's latest pay offer, amid growing pressure to reach an agreement before the planned 24-hour stoppage on Thursday, November 12th.

The Government has proposed a revised pay deal worth 10.5% over just over two and a half years, with larger increases for lower-paid public servants, some of whom could receive up to 17.8%.

The offer also includes an additional payment of €1,200 or 2% of salary, whichever is higher, for 2026.

The proposals follow the rejection of an earlier 7.75% offer, with negotiations continuing today under a Government-appointed group chaired by Workplace Relations Commission chair Kevin Foley.

Ger Carthy Warns of Impact on Ambulance and Hospital Services

Councillor Ger Carthy, who also works with the National Ambulance Service, warned that failure to reach agreement could have serious consequences for essential services in Wexford.

He claimed ambulance services could face a 50% reduction during the industrial action, while hospital appointments and other public services could also be disrupted.

"We certainly don't want to be in a position where 350,000 public servants go on strike on Thursday," he said.

Cllr Carthy questioned whether the revised offer goes far enough, pointing out that the previous public-sector pay agreement delivered 10.25% over a shorter period.

He said inflation and the rising cost of living would make the latest offer difficult for some workers to accept.

Describing the coming days as potentially very difficult, he urged those overseeing the talks to find a resolution before Thursday.

He also criticised what he sees as a lack of public comment from senior political representatives in County Wexford, calling on the county's five Oireachtas members to publicly support local public servants.

Michael Sheehan: Lower-Paid Workers Must Be Protected

New Ross councillor Michael Sheehan welcomed the fact that the Government had improved its original offer but said the details would need careful examination.

He described the initial proposal as inadequate and said the latest developments showed that the concerns of public servants were finally being taken seriously.

Cllr Sheehan argued that lower-paid public servants, including local authority workers, had a particularly strong case for improved pay.

He warned that a heavy-handed approach from the Government could prove counterproductive, with preparations for Thursday's strike continuing.

According to Cllr Sheehan, any final agreement must take account of the rising cost of living and the extent to which public-sector wages have failed to keep pace with inflation.

He also said the duration of any agreement was important and should ideally be limited to two or two and a half years, rather than extending to three years or beyond.

Jim Codd: Public Servants Struggling to Make Ends Meet

Councillor Jim Codd, a teacher, offered strong support for public servants taking industrial action, arguing that the cost-of-living crisis has left many workers unable to afford basic necessities.

Reflecting on his early years in teaching, he said a permanent job once provided enough financial security to obtain a mortgage, purchase a car and establish a home.

He believes that security has been eroded by rising household costs.

"Teachers now, public servants simply cannot make ends meet," he said.

Cllr Codd highlighted the cost of fuel, electricity and home heating as major pressures on working families.

He also criticised the suggestion that the Government's latest proposal was effectively a take-it-or-leave-it offer, arguing that such an approach would do little to resolve the dispute.

He called for wider action to address living costs, saying that pay increases alone would not resolve the financial pressures facing public servants.