Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

261. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide a more detailed and accurate timeline for the release of information and issuing of the Covid-19 pandemic recognition payment for non-HSE and non-section 38 healthcare employees, given these staff have been waiting an extended period of time without clarity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47479/22]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

267. To ask the Minister for Health when agency staff (details supplied) will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47502/22]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

277. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an overview of the implementation of the issuing of pandemic bonus payments to front-line healthcare workers who are not employed by the HSE; the organisation that is carrying out this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47558/22]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

278. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the roll-out of the pandemic bonus payment to front-line healthcare workers in a centre (details supplied) in September 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47559/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 261, 267, 277 and 278 together.

Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.

While I am not in a position to address more specific or individual queries at this point, I can confirm that the HSE and my Department have been working to progress 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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;

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

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, and it is expected that timeframes will become clearer in due course.

Regarding cohorts 1-4, a contractor is being sought to assist with gathering and processing information, with a tendering deadline of 23 September. Once a contractor is in place and details of the necessary processes are finalised, information will be published for those certain eligible 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 is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

Regarding cohorts 5 and 6, the Department and HSE are engaging with other Departments where applicable to progress payments as soon as possible for eligible staff.