Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. On 19 January, the Government announced a Covid-19 recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000, which is welcome, will not be subject to income tax, USC or PRSI. The announcement also made provision for a pro rataapplication of the payment. The measure will be ring-fenced to staff ordinarily on site in Covid-19 exposed healthcare environments in the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. This payment will be made to those eligible public sector front-line healthcare staff, inclusive of agency staff working for the HSE, who worked in clinical settings. The list is not exhaustive but includes doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, porters, cleaners etc. who work in clinical settings. The measure also encompasses healthcare support assistants, also known as home carers or home help, employed by or carrying out duties contracted to the HSE. It also encompasses those eligible working on site in long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, inclusive of HSE and section 39 facilities. Finally, the measure also extends to equivalent healthcare workers in private nursing homes and hospices. Arrangements for these sectors are currently being progressed by the Department of Health.

The Government knows we have to apply this recognition to those who faced the highest risk and that is why this measure has been limited in scope. While immense efforts have undoubtedly been made by other healthcare staff, by other staff in other sectors and by the general public since the onset of this pandemic, it is right that the Government pursues this course to recognise those who took the greatest risk in the performance of their duties. The announcement covers eligible front-line healthcare workers only and I am also mindful of the many other workers throughout the country who played their part during this difficult period.

It is difficult to draw a line under this matter but the Government based its decision on the risks which front-line healthcare workers faced. The Deputy pointed out that these workers need to be recognised and that they were working as project workers, who took great care of their residents and clients. That is one of the aspects of the care that was given to people who were vulnerable and in homelessness and I want to thank the workers for all the work they did. I will raise this again and I will try to ensure that these people who did so much during the pandemic are recognised. I am working in my Department to try to ensure that the people who sacrificed so much and worked so hard will be recognised. I will raise this within the Department again.

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