Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a special pay arrangement will be introduced for teachers and education staff who contracted the Covid-19 virus at work and now suffer from long-Covid given the changes to the Covid-19 special leave with pay for public sector workers; if an extension will be provided to those in the education sector similar to the proposal for healthcare workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35556/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 27^thMay 2022, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) published updated ‘Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19 in relation to Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 ‘.  The DPER Guidance and FAQs apply to all civil and public service employees.  My Department’s Circular Letter 0038/2022 titled ‘COVID-19: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Updated Working Arrangements for Teachers and Special Needs Assistants employed in recognised Primary and Post Primary schools’ published on 8^thJune 2022 reflects this DPER directive.

From 1^stJuly 2022, the COVID-19 Special Leave with Pay entitlement for school employees will change. The maximum Special Leave With Pay entitlement is 7 consecutive days in any one instance, which is the current HSE stated self-isolation period. The terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme will apply where an employee remains medically unfit for work immediately after the 7-day Special Leave With Pay period.  From 1^stJuly 2022, an employee already absent on extended COVID-19 Special Leave With Pay (28 continuous days or more) and who remains medically unfit for work from that date, the terms and conditions of the Sick Leave Scheme will apply.

The arrangements relating to the application of COVID-19 Special Leave With Pay is temporary and will be kept under regular review by DPER.

Any proposal for healthcare workers in relation to COVID-19 Special Leave With Pay is a matter between DPER and the HSE.