Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to conduct a review in the near future of the effectiveness of her Department’s payroll system in light of reported issues from teachers regarding difficulty having changes made or mistakes rectified in salaries; the reason it is taking so long to have salary issues addressed and the difficulties for teachers trying to communicate with her Department; if she will specifically investigate the issues reported by a deputy principal (details supplied) and ensure that the problems are rectified as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61114/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Boards of Management of schools are the direct employers of teachers and my Department acts as paymaster to over 4,000 schools in the primary, voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools. 

To efficiently process any change that affects payment of salary, my Department relies on schools to notify Payroll Division in a timely manner.Where the notification by the school occurs after the payroll has closed for that time period, then an overpayment of salary can occur.Any notification that affects salary, must be received by the DE and recorded 13 days in advance of a payment date. This period of time is required to complete the payroll process from the calculation of gross pay through to nett pay and then to move funds to meet the banking deadlines.

In relation to the teacher referred to by the Deputy, there are two key aspects to this case, (i) the notification by the school of changes which affected this person’s salary was unfortunately too late for processing within the pay schedule and (ii) incorrect information was given by a department payroll staff member in relation to the value of overpayments involved.

The Department has a statutory obligation to recoup monies overpaid in error, to a teacher or non-teaching staff member.  My Department is working with the teacher concerned to put a flexible repayment plan in place which will cause no undue financial hardship to her. 

Following a complaint by the teacher concerned, a full review was carried out by an official from my Department and a letter issued with a comprehensive explanation and an apology. In addition a senior official from my Department telephoned the teacher concerned and again apologised for the error that occurred.

Since the initial complaint was received from the teacher, an official from my Department, has been in regular contact with the teacher concerned.

On a general note, there are a number of ways for teachers to contact my Department including by email, post and telephone and in this particular situation a staff member is dedicated to liaising with the individual teacher concerned.