Members of the country's largest public service trade union, Impact, have voted strongly to accept the proposed new Lansdowne Road agreement on pay for State employees.

The decision by Impact members, as well as the move by primary school teachers last week to support the proposed accord, significantly boosts the prospects of it being ratified by the overall public service committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu).

The ballot saw 75 per cent of Impact members vote to accept the proposed agreement.

€2,000 increase

Under the proposed deal, most public service personnel will receive an increase in earnings of about €2,000 in three phases between January 2016 and September 2017.

"The Lansdowne Road agreement marks the first positive movement on public sector pay in more than eight years, and the commencement of the process to unwind the emergency legislation that was used to cut pay during the economic crisis," Impact general secretary Shay Cody said.

Mr Cody said the rise in public sector worker incomes, from January 1st, 2016, would boost domestic demand and support continuing economic growth.

“Impact has consistently argued that the whole country needs a pay rise after such a long period of wage stagnation. With pay improvements already taking place in the private sector, more noticeably since 2014, it makes sense for public sector pay to keep in step,” he said.

The union represents about 60,000 staff across different parts of the public service.

Last week primary school teachers who are members of the INTO voted by 65 per cent to 35 per cent to back the deal.

However, members of the Irish Medical Organisation voted overwhelmingly to reject the proposed accord.

The ultimate fate of the proposed agreement will be determined by an aggregate vote of unions affiliated to the public service committee of Ictu.