Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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337. To ask the Minister for Health if he will extend the Covid special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36682/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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338. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the HSE did not attend a hearing of the Workplace Relations Commission on the issue of special leave with pay on 27 June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36683/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this regard.