The Public Service Benchmarking Body, established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF), was asked to undertake a fundamental examination of the pay of public service employees vis-a-vis the private sector.

The report of the Body was published on 1st July 2002. The Report recommends varying levels of pay increases for the grades examined. It covers all the major groups in the public service (apart from top posts which are dealt with by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector), including administrative/clerical grades, the Gardai, teachers, nurses, other health professionals and the Defence forces. The pay of approximately 230,000 public servants will be affected by the Report.