The Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin says he has been advised that he cannot block pay rises for highly paid public servants.

Around 500 public service workers earning over €100,000 are due to get incremental pay rises this year.

Meanwhile Public sector workers will be told tomorrow of government plans to fastrack savings from the Croke Park Agreement.

The Taoiseach is convening the meeting of the Croke Park Implementation Body to outline department-by-department savings.

It follows embarrassing climb-down by the coalition to tackle allowances and save €75 million.

Instead a definite saving of just €3.5 million would have been made.

Some €18 million will be paid out in increments to public servants this year and some of those getting pay rises are already highly paid.

Mr. Howlin says he looked at the possibility of blocking pay rises for those earning over €100,000.

But advisors have told him that he cannot use financial public interest legislation to single-out the well off.

While Mary-Lou McDonald of Sinn Fein said the Minister was using well-worn excuses to protect the wealthy.

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