Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been asked to repay an overpayment on salary; her views on whether this is fair; the person who was responsible for this error; the reason it was not detected earlier; the number of other cases such as this which have occurred in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8456/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The policy of my Department is to recover any overpayment of salary that is made to a teacher or special needs assistant. The procedure for the recovery of an overpayment is outlined in circular 15/04.

In the case referred to by the Deputy the person was advised by correspondence from my Department of the amount of the overpayment and the options for the repayment of the moneys owed. Officials of my Department have also consulted directly with the person concerned. The overpayment will be recovered by fortnightly deductions over a period of approximately six years or on the basis of other options that the person may wish to agree to in the future. The moneys which were overpaid to the person were in excess of the authorised salary due and, accordingly, it is fair to recover them.

My Department is not aware at present of any case similar to the one referred to by the Deputy.