Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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497. To ask the Minister for Health the number of front-line workers who have received the pandemic bonus payment to date; when all payments are expected to issue to front-line workers eligible for the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46877/22]

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.

The vast majority of eligible HSE and Section 38 staff have received the Pandemic Recognition Payment, with approximately 123,549 such staff having received the payment by 16^thSeptember 2022.

The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. This shall cover eligible staff in:

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

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

3. Agency roles working in the HSE;

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

5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.

It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/non-Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff.

Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.