Watchdog criticises Department of Education for teacher pay blunder

The government spending watchdog, the Comptroller and Auditor General, has criticsed the Department of Education for over-paying teachers to the tune of €1.2m.

The teachers involved will now have to re-pay the money, however they haven't yet been contacted by the department.

The blunder is highlighted in the auditor's latest report out today.

It arose after the department took seven months to enact a budget decision changing pay rates for new entrant teachers.