The audit pointed out that the go-ahead of the assistant national director of human resources is needed for that level of payout – but it was not in place in this case.
The audit, which looked at lump sum and pension payments in Cork and Kerry, found four of 20 retirees owed money totalling €11,812 to the HSE.
Two of the four retirees had a technical adjustment balance owing at retirement that was not deducted from their retirement benefit. In the case of two others, salary benefits continued to be paid to them after their retirement dates.
Both retirees were told of the overpayments – but the money can only be recouped with their written authorisation.
At the time of the audit, one of the former employees agreed to repay the overpayment but deductions had yet to start. In the case of the second person, no agreement was in place.
Three of the 20 retirees sampled received lump-sum payments ranging from €268,000 to €363,000.
In a separate audit, it was found a nurse was overpaid €5,539 in what is “suspected irregular behaviour” by the employee. The auditors discovered the payment to the nurse – who was on sick leave from one post in Limerick while starting another in Kerry.
The…
