Former ministers owe over €100k between them for incorrect pension deductions
It emerged last June that administrative errors at the National Shared Services Office resulted in current and previous members of government and several office holders having incorrect pension deductions applied.
Former ministers who have yet to enter repayment plans following incorrect pension deductions owe €100,000 between them.
It has now been confirmed that all current ministers who owe money back to the State are now in a repayment plan.
It emerged last June that administrative errors at the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) resulted in current and previous members of government and several office holders having incorrect pension deductions applied.
The reported last week that the NSSO was refusing to confirm how many current ministers had yet to enter a payment plan to repay the pension miscalculations.
Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers told the Oireachtas finance committee in January that 10 sitting ministers had yet to start repayments.
Some 26 former ministers had not entered a plan.
When the sought an update on whether these ministers had reached an agreement with the NSSO, a spokesperson refused to comment, citing GDPR and privacy concerns.
However, following queries from Sinn Féin’s finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty to Sandra Walsh, chief executive of the NSSO, the body has now confirmed that all current ministers have entered a repayment plan.
Ms Walsh confirmed that the aggregate miscalculation of pension deductions was €359,829.
As of February 10, €259,076 (72%) has been paid in full or will be repaid under an agreed payment plan.
There is no payment plan in place for the remaining €100,752.
Ms Walsh confirmed that all current ministers and ministers of state are now in repayment plans, meaning that it is just former ministers who have not.
“Engagement commenced with all current ministers/ministers of State impacted on June 10 2025,” she said.
“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 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.
"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.”
Mr Doherty said that current ministers accepted repayment plans after eight months after being "shamed into" it by Sinn Féin.
He said it was "disgraceful" that a handful of former ministers ha still to repay almost €100k.
"It is time to take off the kid gloves and simply put them on a repayment plan like the state would do with any ordinary person.
"Ordinary people get three weeks before they are given a repayment plan."
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