Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Dolan for raising an important issue. I acknowledge her passion about this and her frustration. I give apologies on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, who could not be here today. The Senator clearly articulated the frustration among her constituents and the healthcare workers not just in her area, but also around the country, who are in cohort 3 and therefore impacted by this.

Last year, as the Senator knows, the Government announced a tax-free Covid-19 recognition payment for front-line healthcare workers to recognise their unique and exceptional role during the pandemic. Following extensive union consultation, eligibility guidelines were first published online by the HSE on 19 April 2022. The Government based its decision on the substantial risks eligible healthcare workers faced. To be eligible, healthcare workers employed by the HSE or section 38 organisation must have been in Covid vaccination cohorts 1 or 2 and worked ordinarily in a Covid-19 exposed healthcare environment for at least a four-week period between March and June 2020. In addition to HSE and Section 38 staff, six specific cohorts are eligible, subject to all other criteria. These include: private sector and independent nursing homes and hospices; eligible staff working on-site in section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities; agency roles working in the HSE; health care support assistants, also known as home help, home care and home support, contracted to the HSE; members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE; and paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE. To date, more than 205,000 eligible healthcare workers have received the pandemic recognition payment. As of 5 May, HSE data show 142,918 staff were paid, made up of 90,228 HSE staff and an estimated 52,690 staff of section 38 organisations. Payment to staff in the HSE and section 38 organisations, who make up cohorts 1 and 2, is substantially complete. Appeals for these specific groups were referred to an agreed joint HSE management-union committee. More than 3,500 appeal outcomes are now complete.

The HSE and an external contractor, KOSI Corporation, continue significant efforts to progress payments to eligible employees outside the public sector, including contract and agency staff within cohort 3. Information on the process involved has now been provided to 849 organisations and, of these, 737 have applied for funding to make the recognition payment. A total of 674 organisations have already been paid or approved for payments to 64,174 eligible staff. Due to complexities associated with staff in cohort 3, contractors have more supporting evidence to compile and agencies have a large number of employees and employee locations to collate. These submissions are currently being managed through the KOSI Corporation process.

Approximately 90% of submissions received to date have included errors that required correction before payment. The potential cost to the State of overpayments is €3.77 million. More than 400 organisations have submitted more than one claim. As this is a self-assessment process, it is difficult to assess accurately how many eligible staff remain to be paid. KOSI Corporation continues to receive claim packs regularly.

It is important to acknowledge that there are individuals or groups of workers who worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic in very difficult circumstances but are not covered by these measures. The Government considered this matter carefully, listening to the views of stakeholders before reaching its decision on eligibility. It was difficult to draw a line on the matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks faced by eligible front-line healthcare workers.