Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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561. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 22 June 2022, the reason for the delay in the payment of the pandemic recognition payment to eligible staff of private nursing homes; when the payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44689/22]

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.

Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention. Officials are continuing work to progress this large complex project, and further consideration is actively underway on how this would best be expedited.

At this point, the Department is not in a position to assess or comment on individual cases. Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised and once information on which organisations shall be paid is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

I assure you that it is the intention of the Department to have all eligible healthcare workers paid without delay, and all possible efforts are being made to achieve this. I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.