Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

673. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive the pandemic bonus payment. [35426/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

While my Department does not comment on individual cases, 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.

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. 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 the Defence Forces to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;

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

I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

674. To ask the Minister for Health if the special leave with pay scheme will be extended for healthcare workers with long Covid; the engagement that his Department has had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this issue; if long Covid will be deemed as an occupational injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35444/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The change to Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re Covid-19 that came into effect on 1 July 2022 is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform who had originally introduced SLWP re Covid as a temporary scheme.

Officials from my Department have engaged with the Health Service Executive and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to develop a proposal for a scheme for public health service employees in respect of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection. 

An offer of direct engagement between the management side and the health sector staff representative bodies in respect of the Scheme has been made, which I hope can be concluded quickly.

It would be inappropriate to make any further statement on the matter until that engagement is concluded.