HSE overpayments note: ‘Careful not to give impression it’s OK’

An audit into HSE operations has identified overpayments to staff in three regions worth almost €3 million.

In 2013, the report says, no repayments had been made to the organisation in respect of €1.4 million of that figure.

The wide-ranging 42-page audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General appears to have been erroneously circulated to Oireachtas members this week, a copy of which was obtained by The Irish Times.

A note in the file from last month, which appears to be from HSE management responding to the overpayments says: “Say something about the context i.e. scale of €2.9m taken seriously however we pay out over Xbn per annum etc - careful not to give impression it’s OK but what would ‘good’ look at our scale of annual payroll payments.”

Calls for comment from the HSE were not immediately returned last night.

Other issues of concern highlighted in the document related to hotel bills that “appear excessive” and in one case someone bringing a “personal guest” to the US at HSE expense.

In relation to overpayments, it says 13 of 15 arose from a failure to inform the relevant HSE section of staff on unpaid leave or terminations of employment.

The official management response in the document said all staff last year were reminded of their responsibilities to the payroll process.