Department 'very focused' on recovering €558m of social welfare overpayments

Dara Calleary also said that the social insurance fund is 'healthy' at present and that PRSI increases will go ahead as planned. Photo: Johnny Bambury

The Department of Social Protection is "very focused" on recovering money that has been overpaid.

A briefing note for new minister Dara Calleary shows there was a “significant stock” of social welfare overpayments with an outstanding balance of €558 million in October 2024. Of that, around 67% of people who received overpayments of €266 million are listed as "not repaying".