Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy, that notwithstanding the fact that overpayments may sometimes arise, in circumstances where the person who has received the extra payment is not at fault in creating the overpayment, Department officials do not have discretion to waive, or exempt overpayments from recovery.

Departments and Offices have an obligation to put repayment plans in place for all overpayments, regardless of how they have occurred.

The Department of Education’s Policy and Procedures for dealing with the recovery of Overpayments of Salary or Pension are set out in DE Circular 084/2015.

Circular 84/2015 notes that all overpayments should be repaid as soon as possible and also sets out the options which are available to persons to make repayments.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 07/2018 notes that Departments and Offices are under an obligation to seek to recover the amount of the overpayment and to correct the mistake in the disbursement of public monies, subject to relevant procedures and practices in Government accounting. Staff members/former staff members/pensioners have a reciprocal obligation to repay.

I can advise the Deputy that officials from the post primary payroll section of my Department have again been in contact with the teacher concerned, in order to explain the position, and to seek to put in place a repayment option which could minimise the financial impact for the teacher concerned, to the greatest extent possible.