Written answers

Wednesday, 22 June 2022

Department of Health

Health Services Staff

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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167. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter in relation to the redeployment of community swabbers (details supplied) [32828/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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168. To ask the Minister for Health when the pandemic special recognition payment €1,000 per person will be made to non-HSE frontline healthcare workers; when staff in private nursing homes will receive the payment; the reason for the delay; the number of payments of €1,000 made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32830/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website:

www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html

Payment is currently receiving priority across all Hospital Groups and Community Services in the HSE. As of Friday, 17 June, 33,431 eligible HSE staff have received payment around the country. This number excludes applications payments made in Section 38 organisations, many of whom have also completed payment.

The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. Rolling out the payment to eligible non-HSE and non-Section 38 employees is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered.

Officials in the Department and the HSE are prioritising the work needed to progress this. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/S38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:

1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);

2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;

3. Agency roles working in the HSE;

4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

5. Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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169. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to delays in the payment of the pandemic recognition payment to eligible staff of private nursing homes; when the payments will be made; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32844/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, on 19th April the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on its website:

www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html

The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. Rolling out the payment to eligible non-HSE and non-Section 38 employees is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered.

Officials in the Department and the HSE are prioritising the work needed to progress this. It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/S38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:

1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);

2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;

3. Agency roles working in the HSE;

4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

5. Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.

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