Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The pandemic recognition payment is in the final stages of its roll-out and should begin reaching organisations very soon so that eligible staff can receive the payment as soon as possible. The nub of the issue is that there is a wide variety of front-line workers in the HSE and section 38 organisations eligible for the payment. Support staff such as cleaning and catering staff, among other groups, are included once they meet the eligibility criteria set out. These also include private sector nursing homes and hospices, section 39 long-term residential facilities for people with disability, agency roles in the HSE, healthcare support assistants, members of the Defence Forces and paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade. I hope that clarifies it. My understanding is they need only meet the eligibility criteria that is there for all, meaning those who work for a certain amount of time on the front line. Hopefully that payment will issue very soon.