Pay in the public sector (excluding the health sector) rose by 9.5 per cent in 2004, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office.
In June 2002, an average pay increase of 9 per cent for the State's then 280,000 public servants was recommended by the benchmarking pay review body.
The sectors covered in the figures are the Defence forces; Garda Síochána; local authorities; education (excluding private institutions); and semi-state bodies (excluding their subsidiary companies).
Meanwhile it has emerged that the number of public servants is now running at 9,000 above the cap imposed by the Government two years ago, it emerged today.
CSO figures show jobs grew by 4,500 last year to 354,000 exceeding the 345,000 ceiling ordered by former Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy in December 2002.
This includes an increase in employment in the Health Sector increased from 96,500 to 98,700 last year.
Today's Public Sector Employment and Earnings data also reveal that garda numbers have risen by just 300 since the last election despite a pledge in the Programme for Government in June 2002 to deliver 2,000 extra officers.
The public sector covers the army, gardai, local authorities, education (excluding schools and colleges) and semi-state bodies.