Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Shared Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 March 2018

Tuesday, 20 March 2018

Ceisteanna (124)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons that have been overpaid as a result of errors within the National Shared Services Office; the highest overpayment recorded; the average overpayment; the amount recovered; the total in overpayments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11778/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am informed by the National Shared Services Office that an overpayment to staff of salary, allowances and expenses can and does occur across the entire public service for a number of reasons, including late notification, after the payroll closed and the file has issued to the bank for payment.

In addition, the reform of sick leave in the public service, while creating significant savings and standardisation of administration and elimination of legacy issues, has meant that staff are reaching sick leave thresholds earlier, which increases the risk of a pay adjustment not being notified in a timely manner.

Shared Services is reliant on employees and managers notifying sick leave on the first day of occurrence. Late or delayed notification results in overpayments. Regular communications were issued by the NSSO to civil service staff to notify them of their obligations and an intensified information campaign is also planned for 2018 with Local HR.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, I am advised that the data provided in the table is for 2017 and is estimated as it is subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Question

Response  

The  number of persons whose payroll is administered by the NSSO to the end of 2017

124,500 people

The number of persons whose payroll is administered by the NSSO who were in receipt of an overpayment at the end of 2017

2,412 people

The percent of those overpayments arising from errors in the NSSO to end of 2017

10%  

The highest overpayment value recorded by the NSSO

€60,457 and this was a processing error in a retirement case that has been fully recouped

The estimated average overpayment value during 2017

€2,036

The amount recovered in 2016 – no estimated 2017 figures available yet

€2.015 million for 2016

The estimated total amount paid to the 124,5000 people in receipt of payroll and pension payments from the NSSO in 2017

€4.2 billion

The estimated (not yet audited) total value of overpayments for those customers whose payroll is administered by the NSSO to the end of 2017

€3.7m

Barr
Roinn