Written answers

Tuesday, 27 September 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Johnny MythenJohnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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326. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she plans to include long-Covid as an occupational disease for front-line workers considering the European Union ACSH Agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47058/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Covid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that—

(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and

(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.

My Department is aware of the work of the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) regarding the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease and the Department is monitoring the European Commission's work and recommendations in this regard.

My Department reviews its supports and schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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