BREAKING: Ireland’s Minimum Wage Will Increase By Next Year

Good news for Irish workers, as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced this afternoon that Ireland's minimum wage will increase by January 2018.

The Irish Sun report that the minimum wage will go up by 30 cent, bringing it from €9.25 to €9.55 an hour.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the news on the steps of the Dail this afternoon alongside Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald, TD, and Minister Finian McGrath

Labour spokesperson on Worker’s Rights Senator Ged Nash has welcomed the news:

He said: “While modest, the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation to increase the rate by 30 cent an hour to €9.55 is a welcome but very small step in the right direction."

The living wage in Ireland is now estimated at €11.70, with rents in Dublin accounting for 47% of a single person’s living costs.

Glad to see minimum wage increasing by €0.30. The fourth increase under Fine Gael, following Fianna Fáil slashing it in their final weeks pic.twitter.com/sntyasQn7Q
— Noel Rock (@NoelRock) July 18, 2017

Workers on minimum wage will now have an extra €12 on average in their wallets a week, or €624 a year.