Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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57. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will reconsider the groups of persons who will receive the once-off €1,000 payment to make it available to all persons who worked on the front-line in different sectors during the Covid-19 pandemic who all helped to keep the country running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3828/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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There are many thousands of people across the country who went above and beyond over the course of the last two years. The continued contribution of so many people in all walks of life has been essential to getting us through this difficult time. Collaboration and solidarity have been the hallmark of our national approach to COVID-19 and the measures announced on 19 January are true to those principles.

After careful consideration, the Government made the decision to give all the people of Ireland a national day of recognition and commemoration on the 18^thof March this year, and another permanent public holiday in February commencing in 2023.

The Government took many factors into consideration when coming to a decision in relation to any additional recognition measure for specific sectors, however it ultimately agreed that acknowledging certain frontline healthcare workers in the public sector and in private nursing homes and hospices in particular was the most fair and appropriate, whilst acknowledging all other healthcare workers and sectors with the public holidays.

This is a balanced package of measures that will benefit all workers across the economy, while also recognising in particular the risks faced by certain frontline healthcare workers during this pandemic.