Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for posing this question. It is a very important question and clarity is needed on it. I am representing the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection who is not available to take the question. I agree with the Senator that there has been a large degree of confusion and I hope that I can bring clarity to the situation.As we all know, illness benefit is a short-term payment made to insured people who are unable to work due to illness. This payment is funded by the Social Insurance Fund through the payment of PRSI contributions by workers and employers and, in the event of a shortfall between contributions received and benefits paid, the Exchequer. This was always the situation.

Under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020, the Government, having regard to the manifest and grave risk to human life and public health posed by the spread of Covid-19, made exceptional provision, in the public interest and to mitigate the effect of the spread of the disease, to amend and extend the Social Welfare Acts to provide for entitlement to illness benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with, or are a probable source of, infection with Covid-19. The rate of payment of the enhanced illness benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. The measures were designed to ensure that, where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with Covid-19 or identifies him or her as a probable source of infection of Covid-19, the person can comply with medical advice to isolate while having his or her income protected. This is essential to limit and slow down the spread of the virus, keep the number of people affected to a minimum and reduce a peak of cases which would cause extreme pressure on the health system.

I will return now to the Senator Sherlock's question and the nub of the issue. I take on board the Senator's concerns and I will pass them on to the Minister. Communication and clarification are extremely important. The Department does not distinguish between people who are self-isolating and people who are restricting their movements. It provides the enhanced illness benefit payment to anyone who meets the eligibility criteria, including a certificate of incapacity for work or evidence of HSE contact tracing. I reiterate the Department does not distinguish between people who are self-isolating and people who are restricting their movements. It is important people are aware of that. When a medical practitioner advises a person to stay away from work because an underlying medical condition means he or she is unable to work safely, the standard illness benefit payment may be made, subject to the conditions of the scheme being satisfied. The purpose of the enhanced illness benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is to encourage people not to go to work due to financial constraint when they should be in isolation. I hope this clarifies the position for the Senator.

On the question regarding numbers, unfortunately I do not have that information, but I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister with a view to her Department providing the information to the Senator.