Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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416. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the budgetary analysis being carried out to plan for long Covid-19 impacts in his Department and each State agency under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [4487/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department is actively managing the challenges and issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. This pandemic affects the operation of our Global Mission Network to varying degrees depending on the situation in each country. My Department operates within the overall budgetary allocations received each year and will continue to engage with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on budgetary matters as they arise throughout the year. While no specific budgetary analysis has been carried out at this stage by the Department to plan for long Covid-19 impacts, a Covid-19 Safe Working Group has been established, chaired by a HR Director, tasked with monitoring the situation very closely and providing regular guidance and updates to our management and staff on appropriate measures to take.

The introduction of Covid Special Leave with Pay was introduced to support officers who have tested positive for Covid-19 or are self-isolating and displaying symptoms. This leave is available to staff for up to 28 days. Where staff continue to experience symptoms of long Covid beyond 28 days, an extension of this leave can be granted subject to CMO approval and the officer meeting certain criteria.

My Department will also continue to work closely with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Government Departments on how to best support our staff, to manage the ongoing and future impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure the ongoing provision of services to the public in line with Governmental and public health guidance both nationally and internationally.

There are no State Agencies under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs.