Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1671. To ask the Minister for Health if correspondence and a petition by a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the steps that his Department is taking on this issue; if this cohort can be included in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20498/22]

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.

The pandemic recognition grant has a range of eligibility criteria, further information on which was published by the HSE on 19th April, as relates to HSE and Section 38 employees, at www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html 

There are many, many individuals in our country who made an exceptional contribution during the pandemic. The Government are sincerely grateful for this commitment, and it is very difficult to draw a line on this matter, but it is appropriate that in particular public sector frontline healthcare workers, and private sector frontline nursing home and hospice workers, get particular recognition from the Government.

In recognition of the efforts of all workers, volunteers, and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced a public holiday which took place on 18 March 2022. From February next year there will also be a new permanent public holiday established to mark Imbolc or St. Brigid's Day.

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