Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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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. The Government decision provides, subject at all times to the overarching eligibility criteria, that only eligible staff within the following cohorts are covered for this Pandemic Recognition Payment:

1. HSE and Section 38 organisations;

2. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);

3. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;

4. Agency roles working in the HSE;

5. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;

6. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

7. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

As such, any individual who is deemed eligible for payment a) must fit within one of the 7 cohorts highlighted above, and b) must also fit the criteria for payment, as have been set out in the eligibility guidelines and FAQs, as apply to the HSE and Section 38 agencies, which are available on the HSE website: www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html

For clarity, those who fall outside of the above are not in scope for this payment. There are many, many other individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. The Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment, but it is appropriate that those eligible frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. It was tough to draw a line on this matter, but the Government based its decision on the risks which eligible frontline healthcare workers faced.

I note that some private sector healthcare employers have already recognised their frontline workers for their extraordinary efforts since March 2020. The Government would encourage those other private sector healthcare employers who have not done so to adopt appropriate measures to recognise their frontline workers.