Sinn Féin is today calling for pay across the public sector to be restored to pre-2012 levels.

The Department of Education agreed with the TUI and INTO this week to increase the salaries of newly qualified teachers by up to €2,000.

But the ASTI, whose members are not included in the deal, says it is still negotiating with the department to have pay and allowances for newly qualified teachers fully restored to pre-2012 levels.

Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane said that all new entrants into the public service should have their pay increased.

“it’s unfair that we have nurses, doctors, teachers and other public-sector workers who were hired post-2011 who are on different pay scales to those who came into the system before that,” he said.

“All of this needs to be dealt with, not just as part of a new pay agreement, but because this is the right thing to do, and we have to have equal pay for equal work.”