Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, homeless and addiction services have been operating relentlessly as healthcare settings. They have remained open throughout the pandemic and must follow HSE protocols strictly, as required for congregated or healthcare settings, with all staff deemed healthcare workers in front-line services. At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, both homeless and drug-using populations were identified as being particularly vulnerable to the effects of Covid. As a board member of a community drug team, I have heard from our staff who were seconded, and happy to be, at a moment's notice to the HSE to ensure that those who were very vulnerable continued to avail of services. This is very tough and demanding work at the best of times. During the current pandemic, it was frightening for them but they turned up for work every day they were asked. In fact, correspondence from the Chief Medical Officer to the Minister for Health at the onset of the pandemic classified the homeless cohort as one of his top priorities as a most vulnerable group.

Those in the homeless sector were required to adapt their services strictly to the protocols insisted upon by the HSE and the Dublin Region Homeless Executive, DRHE, Covid response team. Their client group is transient and they work with a high number of unvaccinated and medically vulnerable clients for a long period of time. They are still continuing to implement the Covid-specific infection prevention and control measures, for longer than the general public and those in a significant number of other settings have. This is even more important now given the massive spike in Covid cases. The commitment of their staff in supporting the most vulnerable in our society, despite the risk to themselves, should be recognised along with other front-line workers.

The Dublin Homeless Network is a network of 20 NGOs that are the majority voice of voluntary homeless organisations in Dublin. These NGOs provide both residential accommodation and day services to people who are homeless and in need of a wide range of physical, mental and addiction health supports. The network has asked on several occasions to be included in the Covid recognition scheme since the announcement by Government of a once-off Covid recognition payment for those who worked on the front line during Covid-19. The network is asking for recognition on the basis that homeless services receive HSE and local authority grant funding for the payment of salaries to front-line workers; that staff in the sector are deemed healthcare workers; that Covid-19 protocols as directed by the HSE have been strictly adhered to, including the wearing of PPE equipment in clinical and congregated settings as required; that, under direction from the HSE, front-line staff including our nursing cohort conducted Covid testing and vaccinations; that associated staff, including auxiliary staff, worked in the same environment as nursing staff in clinical and congregated settings; and that staffing configuration and support in homeless services, including congregated settings, is similar to that in private nursing home settings.

Section 39 and section 10 front-line staff worked in similar clinical and congregated settings to those announced for the recognition payment scheme, starting from a time when there were no vaccinations available. These organisations are just asking that their staff, including nurses, project workers, care workers, cleaners, catering and other auxiliary staff, who worked with residents, clients and service users on a face-to-face basis during this period have their contributions recognised for inclusion in this Covid recognition scheme.

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