Is there a 'lot of merit' in paying Dubliners more for the same job?

Over the years, the question of whether public sector workers in the capital should be paid a ‘Dublin premium’ to work in the country’s most expensive city. 

On Lunchtime Live, Mark Candon, Principal of St Laurence O’Toole’s Boys National School, said recruitment is difficult because of the high cost of living.  

 “You’ve got public servants, teachers, nurses, all of these people who can’t afford to live in Dublin,” he explained. 

“Can’t afford to rent in Dublin and can’t find somewhere to live. 

“So, something needs to be done.” 

Mr Candon added that perhaps people who work in “all of the bigger towns and cities” should be paid more than those in rural areas where the cost of living is lower. 

“Over the last six years, I would say half of those years, we were unable to have a completely full staff,” he said. 

“It’s the cost of rents everywhere; are there cheap rents somewhere in the Greater Dublin area?” 

The River Liffey. Picture by: Alamy.com. 

However, Jason Cullen of the Dublin Commuter Coalition said it is important to note that some things are cheaper in the capital. 

“The idea of giving people in high cost of living areas additional resources, grants and things like that - there’s a lot of merit in that,” he said. 

“We’re actually unique in the transport sector in that if you live in the centre of Dublin, you actually have access to some of the cheapest public transport in Ireland. 

“You can have a €2 leap card or even €1 if you’re under 25 years of age and free travel for kids. 

“Whereas if you are in the Greater Dublin area, commuting in through the zone, you have a much higher rate of daily fare.” 

Mr Cullen added that the cost of living has increased no matter where public sector workers live. 

“Equally, we’re talking about people getting paid different rates for the same job, depending on what place they’re in,” he argued. 

“In reality, what we have is a massive cost of living crisis - everyone needs a pay rise.”

Main image: Henry Street and the Spire. Picture by: Alamy.com.