David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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853. To ask the Minister for Health if social care workers who worked in Covid-19 isolation centres and homelessness services during the pandemic will receive the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36190/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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854. To ask the Minister for Health if nurses working in prisons managing Covid outbreaks and patients during the pandemic will receive the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36191/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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855. To ask the Minister for Health if public health specialists working in the community during the pandemic will receive the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36192/22]

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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856. To ask the Minister for Health if general practitioner registrars will receive the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36193/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 853 to 856, inclusive, together.

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

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.

The above 6 areas are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.

The Government is mindful of other workers who played their own part during this difficult period in sustaining other services. It is tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which the above frontline workers faced. 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/St Brigid’s Day.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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857. To ask the Minister for Health if he will make an extraordinary payment to University Hospital Kerry staff to ensure that the pandemic bonus payment is made urgently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36201/22]

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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858. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the pandemic bonus payment was not paid to University Hospital Kerry staff on 30 June 2022 as expected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36202/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 857 and 858 together.

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

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.

Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision 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, but this work is being given priority attention.