Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will bring up the matter of pandemic bonus payments for workers in the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme, CASP. It is a unique service in Clondalkin whereby a person with an addiction issue can avail of both medical and holistic treatments. Its methadone dispensing clinic caters for approximately 70 clients on a daily basis in respect of harm reduction. This clinic did not close during the Covid pandemic when HSE and CASP staff worked side by side. HSE staff have rightly and deservedly received their pandemic bonus payments. However, CASP staff who worked alongside them have not. The board of CASP has written to the HSE and I wrote to the Minister regarding this matter. We have not received an adequate answer or explanation. Will the Minister explain why this has happened? Will he ensure that the HSE recognises the vital service these workers provided during the pandemic?

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