Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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377. To ask the Minister for Health the number of neurology nurse specialists currently employed at Beaumont Hospital; if there are plans to increase this number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49296/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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378. To ask the Minister for Health when an employee who is employed by (details supplied) based at University Hospital Limerick who worked all through Covid will receive the Covid recognition payment. [49298/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the roll-out 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 on-site 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.