Trade unions have greeted the recommendations outlined in the benchmarking report with caution.
SIPTU says it will "not be rushing to judgement" on the report, which was completed within the 19 month time-frame.
Dublin Regional Secretary Mr Brendan Hayes said: "We intend to consult as widely as possible with our members and this cannot be done overnight."
He said SIPTU would be seeking an early meeting with the Government to confirm arrangements for the 25 per cent backdated payment of the value of the award, estimated to amount to approximately €1bn.
SIPTU said it would also be seeking clarification of the Government's position on the planned phased payment of the balance.
"Our members need to see the full picture as to what is on offer and when it is on offer, before they can come to a final judgement on the report," Mr Hayes said.
Meanwhile Irish Congress of Trade Unions chairperson and IMPACT General Secretary, Mr Peter McLoone, said the ICTU Public Services Committee would meet next Wednesday to discuss the report.
He said the committee would not take a definitive position in relation to the report’s recommendations until after that meeting.
Mr McLoone said the report on public sector pay was the biggest undertaken not only in Ireland but anywhere in the world.
He congratulated the benchmarking body for completing the report "without fear or favour" as promised at the outset and said: "the outcome has vindicated the unions’ view that public sector pay fell behind during the economic boom. Irish taxpayers should also be assured that they now have the most rational possible assessment of what public servants deserve."
Mr McLoone said he was aware some workers would be disappointed at the outcome and described some of the report’s recommendations as "puzzling".
But he urged union members to be mindful of the advances made already by the unions on pay, such as the pay rises of between 18 and 21.5 per cent under the PPF.
Mr McLoone said the objective of the ICTU was now to see the recommendations contained within the report implemented in full as soon as possible.