Cathal Berry (Kildare South, Independent)
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97. To ask the Minister for Health the number of members of the Defence Forces who are entitled to claim the pandemic bonus payment; the number of members of the Defence Forces who have been paid to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33759/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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 certain front-line workers in healthcare settings, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.

Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, criteria for eligibility of payment for HSE and Section-38 staff was published on 19^thApril. Officials are now working to progress payments to those members of the Defence Forces redeployed to front-line covid-exposed clinical settings in the HSE.

This is a complex task because:

- these employees are not normally paid by the public health service,

- duplicate payments need to be avoided, and

- there are many other organisations to be covered alongside the Defence Forces as the payment is rolled out.

With that in mind, figures are not yet available for the number of staff eligible. I understand that officials in the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are engaging on this matter and further information will be available regarding eligible cohorts in the coming weeks.