Contributions to PRSAs and other personal pensions may be made in a personal capacity outside the payroll system. Social welfare legislation provides for the return, subject to certain conditions, of PRSI contributions paid in respect of payments made to such pensions by employees and proprietary directors outside the payroll system. The refund process is technically complex involving a number of steps and calculations, requiring both revenue and social welfare legislation to be taken into account. My Department and the Revenue Commissioners are currently in consultation to agree mechanisms to refund in these cases and I expect an agreement on these mechanisms will be reached soon.
As soon as the necessary mechanisms are in place, information on how to claim a refund will be publicised and all refunds, including refunds due to the person concerned in this question, will be paid in full.