Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank both Senator Dolan and Murphy for raising this really important issue. In January of this year, to recognise their unique role and extraordinary efforts, the Government announced a pandemic recognition payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers. The pandemic recognition payment was introduced to express the appreciation of Government for those working in front-line environments exposed to Covid-19. Significant efforts have been made to progress the payments under this measure and it has been extremely frustrating. As the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health and older people, I have found it particularly frustrating.

These payments are the result of extensive efforts by Department of Health officials and the HSE. To date, more than 124,000 eligible front-line HSE and section 38 healthcare workers have been paid. This means the vast majority of these eligible front-line workers have now received the pandemic recognition payment. A wide variety of front-line workers within the HSE and section 38 organisations are eligible for this payment. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out. There are also certain non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare workers who are encompassed by the Government decision. Included in these groups are eligible staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices; section 39 long-term residential facilities for people with disabilities; agency roles working in the HSE; healthcare support assistants contracted to the HSE, who went into houses day after day during the pandemic; members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE and did Trojan work in supporting nursing homes and the roll out of the vaccine; and paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

The Department of Health has been working with the Department of Defence and the Local Government Management Agency to expedite and ensure the payment of eligible members of the Defence Forces seconded to Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE as well as Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics. The Department of Health has now transferred funds to Dublin City Council and the Department of Defence to allow for these payments to be completed as soon as possible. Payments to these eligible workers will be arranged by their employers. Anyone who was contracted directly by the HSE received their payments in a timely manner, but we have seen many areas where that did not happen. I am glad to see the issue of payments to members of the Defence Forces and the Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics has been expedited.

In August 2022, the HSE published an invitation to tender for a third-party contractor to assist with the payment process for eligible non-public sector workers. The Minister of Health, Deputy Donnelly, has instructed the HSE to use a simplified process to expedite payments to non-HSE organisations and the HSE and KOSI Corporation have now finalised a process to ensure the payment of these workers. I have spoken several times to the Minister regarding this and he is extremely frustrated by the slow pace of the delivery to the non-HSE workers and in rolling out the payments. Last week, information packs began issuing to relevant organisations. Packs have now issued to more than 750 organisations, including nursing homes, disability facilities, agency organisations and home care organisations. Organisations which make prompt returns can expect to receive funds in the coming weeks and I know everybody will welcome that.

Government is mindful of other workers who played their part in sustaining services during the Covid-19 pandemic. Officials considered the matter carefully and listened to the views of stakeholders before reaching their decision. It was difficult to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks eligible front-line healthcare workers faced. I take on board the point made by both Senators in relation to the contract cleaners and caterers but I refer again to the line that states there are also certain non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare workers who are encompassed by the Government decision. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff among other groups are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out.Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out.