Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address an issue regarding pensions (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8413/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy and can confirm that the department recently wrote to a cohort of fifty-eight retirees regarding an error which occurred due to the incorrect application of a reduction to pensions known as the public sector pension reduction (PSPR).

PSPR was introduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (FEMPI) legislation. PSPR came into effect on 1 January 2011 and was significantly extended on 1 July 2013. It was removed in July 2021. In general, if an individual was in receipt of more than one public service pension, the two pensions were combined to calculate the PSPR and if the total of the combined pensions was greater than €32,500, the reduction was calculated based on the combined amount of the two pensions. The same legislation also provides for the recovery of overpayments due to the incorrect application of the deduction in particular under article 5 (2) 5.

I wish to assure you that the officials of this department understand that this is a sensitive and difficult situation for retirees, and in some instances for their family members or advocates. The application of PSPR is provided for in legislation and in this regard my department do not have discretion to waive or exempt these overpayments from recovery. I can assure you the officials of this department are committed to ensuring that each case will be treated sensitively and, on a case, by case basis.