Written answers
Thursday, 13 October 2022
Department of Health
Covid-19 Pandemic
Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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468. To ask the Minister for Health the reason that the special Leave with pay under Covid-19 for those healthcare workers with long-Covid is only available to those who contracted the virus at least 84 days prior to 7 February 2022; if he will review this threshold date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51090/22]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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For all civil and public sector employees, access to DPER's Special Leave with Pay re Covid, was capped at just 10 days paid leave with effect from 7 February this year, and this was further reduced by DPER to paid leave for the required isolation period only (currently 7 days) with effect from 1 July this year.
While a temporary Scheme for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infectionhad been introduced for eligible public health sector employees in recognition of the increased level of risk faced by some of our staff in clinically exposed settings, it was necessary to include some eligibility criteria in respect of access to the Scheme, particularly noting that the Scheme is specific to the public health sector only, and will provide paid leave for an additional period to those who faced the highest risks at the most challenging phases of the pandemic.
The HSE have introduced the Scheme and eligible employees will have been transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1July 2022.
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