Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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53. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if special leave with pay will continue from 1 July 2022 for cases of long Covid-19 beyond the period of isolation; the number of front-line workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36576/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Special leave with pay for COVID-19 arrangements were introduced by my Department in March 2020 as a temporary measure in response to the unprecedented circumstances presented by the COVID pandemic. Special Leave with Pay has been used in lieu of sick leave across the Public Service to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.

From 1 July 2022, Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 will continue to be available for the stated self-isolation period, which is currently 7 days. This is in keeping with the rationale of assisting in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises.

Following this, if a Public Service employee remains unwell, they may avail of the provisions of the Public Service sick leave scheme, which is a form of paid leave for the public service. It is important to note that we have standardised paid sick leave provisions across the Public Service. All illnesses are treated equally under the Public Service Sick Leave Regulations and equity is a fundamental part of the Scheme.

The Public Service Sick Leave scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:

- A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year period

- Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one year period

- Subject to a maximum of 183 days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period

There is the potential for access to additional sick leave in certain circumstances as guided by the Critical Illness Protocol.

In relation to the number of front-line workers who have availed of Special Leave with Pay for a period of 12 weeks or more, this would be a matter for the relevant sector/organisations.

A temporary scheme of paid leave for certain public health service employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection has been prepared and proposed to the public health sector staff representative bodies. Engagement is ongoing between the Department of Health, the HSE and the health sector representative bodies in this regard.