The benchmarking process has heightened public demand for improvements and modernisation in the public service, the Taoiseach conceded yesterday.Mr Ahern said payment of the remaining benchmarking increases were dependent on "real and verifiable outputs".

He emphasised, however, that the pay rises were not linked to a "once-off requirement for change", but a demand for continuous improvements.

Mr Ahern said research showed that the public service had worked to meet customer demands. In studies conducted late last year, almost 80 per cent of the general public had expressed themselves satisfied or very satisfied with the service received from civil servants.

"However, that means that 20 per cent do not look on us so favourably - and customer expectations are not static, they are rising and they will continue to rise. To provide services as well as we did last year is not good enough."

Mr Ahern was addressing a conference in Dublin on quality in the public sector, organised by the National Standards Authority of Ireland. Customers of the public service, he said, were demanding greater transparency and better services.

"Customers will also look at how citizens fare in other countries, they will look at customer service in the private sector and they will rightly expect the same standards from the public service," he said.

Public servants had demonstrated a willingness to embrace change in the workplace by taking on new responsibilities and adopting more flexible working practices.

The challenge was to continue improving services and value for money. Public service management, staff and unions would have to respond to this or risk losing taxpayer support.