Misunderstanding and inconsistency in the HR units of Government Ministers' departments led to errors in the calculations of ministerial pensions, according to a report from the State's spending watchdog the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG).
In June, the Government announced that a pool of 13,000 retired civil servants, as well as Ministers, were to have their pension deductions checked for incorrect payments.
In its annual report today, the C&AG said that of 25 July 2025, the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) had established that 81 individuals had been impacted by incorrect pension and additional superannuation contributions (ASCs) deductions.
The NSSO found total net underpayments due of almost €353,000.
This comprised of total net refunds of just over €41,000 overpaid by six individuals, and total net underpayments of around €394,000 for recovery from 75 individuals.
As of 25 July 2025, repayment plans were in place for 12 cases, refunds had been processed for four cases, and one case had been fully repaid.
Another 11 cases are in the process of establishing repayment plans, while more than half of all payees have yet to be notified of their liability or refund.
The C&AG found that the issues resulted from a "systemic lack of understanding of some of the intricacies within public sector pension legislation and its interrelationship with tax provisions."
"The relevant departments and administrators of public sector pensions should be provided with timely, sufficient and frequent guidance, updates and oversight in relation to all pension matters," the C&AG said.
The report concludes that while the cumulative financial impact of the errors may not be considered to be material in terms of overall government spending, "the impact of the errors on individual retirees or employees may certainly be material".
