The Government is set to sign off on a new share bailout deal worth up to €100m for ESB workers.

The Sunday Business Post reports the ESB gave out the shares to its workers in lieu of pay rises back in 2001 - but the promised windfall never came.

Workers complained they were unable to sell their shares due to a lack of demand.

The ESB was forced to fix the problem, with a massive share buyback plan for its current and retired workers.

10,800 current and former employees own five per cent of the company, with the remained being state owned.