Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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324. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons within his Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45311/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In line with Government guidelines, specific arrangements are applied to absences from the workplace as a consequence of COVID-19. Special Leave with pay is applied in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 in order to assist in the prevention of possible onward spread of COVID-19 within the work premises. The application of such arrangements allows my Department to ensure delivery of our services while also having the potential to be flexible and responsive to any changes that may be needed based on public health advice.

Please note that there were several cases relating to COVID-19 that commenced prior to 1st July 2022 but lasted until after that date. For the purposes of this PQ these are included based on the date the absence commenced.

For the period to 1st July 2022, the Department recorded a total of 928 officers as having taken Special Paid Leave for COVID-19.

To date, two officers have availed of Special Leave for COVID-19 for a period of 12 weeks (60 days) or more. Both of these incidents occurred prior to 1st July 2022.

Since 1st July 2022, 118 officers have commenced Special Paid Leave for Covid-19.

Also, since 1st July 2022, only one officer received in excess of 14 days Special Paid Leave for COVID-19. While this absence commenced prior to 1st July, payment was received after that date.