Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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665. To ask the Minister for Health if section 39 healthcare workers will be entitled to the pandemic payment bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4398/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended. The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.

Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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668. To ask the Minister for Health if he plans to widen the parameters of the once-off €1,000 pandemic payment to other healthcare groups and to persons who have worked on the front line since early 2020 and right through the pandemic; if his attention has been drawn to the enormous contribution and sacrifices made by carers and health practice nurses and the additional voluntary work carried out at vaccine centres by practice nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4410/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.

The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.

Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.

The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.

I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.

The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.

There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.

Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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669. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that children under four years of age that are consistently testing negative for Covid-19 on and antigen test three days in a row and are asymptomatic for a further 48 hours are not permitted to finish restricting their movements as is the case with children over four years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4423/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may wish to note that as part of the HSE's public health guidance, antigen testing for children under the age of 4 has not been recommended.

Any child experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should isolate from other people (stay at home) and seek a test according to the guidance available on the HSE website which depends on the age and individual circumstances of the child. If the child gets a negative PCR result, they can stop isolating 48 hours after they have no symptoms. If the child gets a positive result, they should continue to self-isolate until both of these apply:

- they have not had a high temperature (38 degrees Celsius or over) or other symptoms for 48 hours AND

- it has been 7 days since they first developed symptoms

In cases where a child is a close contact of a person who tested positive for COVID-19, the guidance applicable, including any requirements in relation to testing, will depend on the age and individual circumstances of the child. In the case of a child aged three and under who is a close contact and who does not have symptoms, they do not need to be tested but they should restrict movements for seven days.

Comprehensive guidance applicable to the circumstances described in the question is available on the HSE website at www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/.

The evidence relating to the detection of COVID-19, and the actions deemed appropriate to mitigate the impact of the virus across the population, are kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Department of Health. The measures in place will continue to be adapted to the epidemiological profile of the disease, its impact on healthcare utilisation and outcomes, the vaccination status of the population and ECDC guidance.