County council gender pay gap in favour of women

Westmeath County Council has reported a gender pay gap in favour of women for 2025. The local authority published its annual Gender Pay Gap Report as required under the Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021.

All organisations in Ireland with more than 50 employees have o release data each year comparing average hourly earnings of men and women, regardless of role or seniority. Westmeath County Council’s figures show a mean gender pay gap of –1.8%, while the median gap stands at –10.86%. Negative percentages indicate that women’s earnings are, on average, higher than those of men.

Chief executive Barry Kehoe said the results reflect the council’s “ongoing commitment” to equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. “We are pleased to publish our 2025 Gender Pay Gap Report, which reflects our ongoing commitment to fostering an open, inclusive, and equitable workplace,” he said.

“At Westmeath County Council, we are dedicated to addressing any workplace barriers to equality and ensuring that all employees have equal opportunities for recognition, career development, and advancement.”

Mr Kehoe said the organisation will continue to strengthen its equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, adding that the council aims to ensure that all employees “have equal opportunities to thrive.”

Local authorities use 30 June each year as the reference date for calculating pay gap data. Employers then have five months to publish their figures, which are intended to highlight gender representation across all grades of employment, from entry-level to senior management.

Mr Kehoe also used the publication of the report to highlight the role of staff in delivering public services across the county.

“Local government plays a vital role in the lives of communities throughout Ireland, and our staff are central to delivering essential services across Westmeath,” he said. “As employers, we are committed to providing a positive and supportive working environment that enables all employees to thrive.”

He pointed to the council’s investment in staff training, career progression pathways, blended working arrangements and flexible, family-friendly policies.

“Westmeath County Council is an excellent place to build a career,” he said, encouraging anyone interested in local government employment to visit the council’s website or the national portal localgovernmentjobs.ie.

The full Gender Pay Gap Report is available on the council’s website under the Our Services section.