Written answers

Thursday, 29 September 2022

Department of Health

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Bríd SmithBríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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264. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact many private nursing home staff are experiencing substantial financial difficulty as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and are relying on the pandemic payment of €1,000 to help them in the coming months; if he will give a definitive date for when they will receive the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47808/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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 HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout 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.  

It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/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. 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.  

The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.  

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.

Photo of Pat BuckleyPat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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265. To ask the Minister for Health when the Covid payment will be made to the staff of a nursing home (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47812/22]

Photo of Stephen DonnellyStephen 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 HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout 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.  

It is hoped that information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/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. 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.  

The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.  

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.

I would also like to remind the Deputy that it is against Department policy to comment on individual cases.

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