Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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272. To ask the Minister for Health the number of HSE staff in receipt of special leave with pay who are suffering from long-Covid; if it is intended to cease this payment for frontline staff who have contracted Covid while carrying out their duties; the supports he intends to offer such staff who continue to suffer long-term effects from Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35000/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of numbers of their staff currently on Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re long Covid, and also in respect of occupational supports and long Covid clinics.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) introduced Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re Covid for all Civil and Public sector employees at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure to assist in the prevention of the onward spread of Covid in the work premises.

 The Department of Expenditure and Reform have announced a change to SLWP re Covid.  From 1st July 2022, SLWP will change for all cases.  SLWP will apply for the duration of the stated self-isolation period only (whatever duration is in place at the time of the absence - currently 7 calendar days).  From that date, any periods of Covid related illness which extends beyond the stated self-isolation period will be treated as ordinary sick leave.

Officials from my Department, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are actively engaging in respect of the impact of the 1st July 2022 change on public health sector employees who have remained absent on SLWP in respect of long Covid, and a scheme to provide for this specific cohort of public health sector workers.