Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
450. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total value of overpayments to Ministers current and former; the total outstanding overpayments; the total outstanding overpayment for which no repayment plan is in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9644/26]
View answer451. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the maximum duration applied to a payment plan in place for any Minister both current and former; the dates that all Ministerial overpayment letters were sent; the number of queries received by NSSO; the number of queries received by the NSSO from Ministers not currently engaged in a repayment plan as of 10 January 2026; the number of appeals received by the NSSO as of 10 January 2026; the number of appeals received within the 21 calendar days from the issuing of the overpayment letters; the number of second overpayment letters issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9645/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together.
The NSSO processes Ministerial allowances to Ministers/Ministers of State on behalf of their respective Departments. The matters outlined below relate to pension-related deductions, and not salary overpayments.
On completion of the review of Pension and Additional Superannuation Contributions (ASC), the NSSO identified that the aggregate miscalculation in respect of Pension/ ASC deductions was €359,829. This figure relates to all those current and former Ministers/Ministers of State impacted, and a small number of other Officers impacted by this review.
As of February 10:
- Approximately 72% have been paid in full or are included in an agreed payment plan.
- Approximately 28% of the amount is outstanding for which no payment plan is yet in place.
It is important to note that the above figures relate to all individuals impacted by this review (current and former Ministers, Ministers of State and a small number of other Office Holders). To provide any further breakdown would raise matters of privacy and confidentiality as they relate to personal pension information, and could lead to implications with respect to GDPR and the Data Protection Act, 2018.
As standard in these cases, the NSSO and/or the employer works with the individual to resolve the under-deduction on a case by case basis. Where there is an under-deduction of pension contribution, the NSSO applies a standard and consistent practice to all individuals and employees with regard to repayment plans.
Engagement commenced with all current Ministers/Ministers of State impacted on June 10th, 2025. Follow-up communications to those not then in a payment plan were issued on September 16, and again on November 7, and engagement has been ongoing since. There has been ongoing engagement to address any outstanding queries throughout this time. The NSSO has reached agreement with all current Ministers and Ministers of State.
In relation to former Ministers, first contact was made on September 25, following the completion of the review into this cohort, with follow up issuing in November and February 2026. Work is ongoing to engage with these individuals and finalise payment arrangements. Engagement is ongoing with a small number of queries still being worked through.
The NSSO is fully committed to ensuring that all monies owed to the State are fully recouped and will continue to follow-up with impacted individuals to finalise payment plans.
