Limerick City and County Council publishes 2024 Gender Pay Gap Report

LIMERICK City and County Council has published its Gender Pay Gap Report, highlighting the difference in the average hourly wage of men and women across a workforce. 

Employers with more than 150 employees in Ireland are required to publish their gender pay gap data before the end of 2024 and within six months of the reference date. Limerick City and County Council and all local authorities in the country have June 30, 2024 as the reference date.

The 2024 report shows a gender pay gap for all employees of 1.72% mean and -5.50% median.

This mean gender pay gap shows that on average, males are paid 1.72% more than females, while the median gender pay gap shows that the median rate of pay for females is 5.5% higher than the median rate of pay for male. 

In 2023, the mean gender pay gap for all employees was 3.88% and the median gender pay gap was -5.61%.

Commenting following the publication of the report, Director General of Limerick City and County Council, Dr Pat Daly said: “Publishing our gender pay gap data helps to reinforce our focus on supporting an open and inclusive workplace at Limerick City and County Council.  It provides a new method of evaluating equality in our organisation. In particular I welcome the improvement in the mean gender pay gap figure in 2024, while acknowledging improvement is always possible. 

READ MORE: PICTURES: Kilcornan community honour their Guinness World Record holders

“Our organisation is a place where all employees have the same opportunities for recognition and career development and are treated fairly and equitably. We are committed to addressing workplace barriers to equality and creating an open and inclusive workplace community. In this regard, we operate a number of equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives and supports. We will work with our colleagues across the sector to share best practice and will continue to monitor these trends over time and look forward to next year’s figures.”

The Council’s Gender Pay Gap 2024 report can be found here.

Dr Daly added: “As an employer, Limerick City and County Council is committed to providing a positive and supportive environment for employees. The Council offers flexible and family friendly arrangements, blended working, and great career progression and education opportunities. Limerick City and County Council is a great place to work, and we encourage anyone looking for a job in our Council to visit Limerick.ie/Council or check out www.localgovernmentjobs.ie to see what we have to offer.”

The gender pay gap is not the same as equal pay. Employment Equality legislation provides for equal pay for like work. All male and female employees in the local government sector are paid equally for work that is the same or similar or for work of equal value, therefore this report does not examine equal pay.

Rates of pay within the sector are agreed through national wage agreements negotiated regularly between employers and staff representatives. The Gender Pay Gap calculates the percentage difference between the average earnings of males and females irrespective of their role, using the specific measures outlined in the report.