Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan has said that taxpayers must not be “on the hook” for money overpaid to 30 serving and former government ministers.
The Dublin Bay North TD said it was “inexcusable” that more than 30 serving and former ministers have yet to commence a process to repay pension money that was overpaid to them in error.
In late 2025, it emerged that 34 serving ministers, and 39 former ministers, had been overpaid as a result of miscalculations made on their pension entitlements by the National Shared Services Office (NSSO).
It has since been revealed that 10 current ministers and 22 former ministers who were overpaid have yet to agree on a plan to repay the money.
“These are individuals on salaries exceeding €180,000 – people with every capacity to settle the debt immediately,” O’Callaghan argued.
“Instead, months after the error first came to light, the public is expected to tolerate delay, ambiguity, and silence.”
O’Callaghan asserted, “this money was never theirs to hold onto. Every day it remains unpaid is another day the government signals that standards apply to everyone except those who set them.”
“Accountability cannot be optional for ministers. Repayment should have been swift, automatic, and transparent.
“During Leaders’ Questions today, Enterprise Minister Peter Burke was unable to shed any light on the issue, other than to say that the individuals involved were seeking clarity from the NSSO. This was an extremely unsatisfactory response.
“The taxpayer must not be on the hook for this money. Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers needs to provide an update on all overpayments to government ministers and confirm when they will be settled,” O’Callaghan said.