Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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365. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will provide an update on her Department's position regarding the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease for front-line healthcare workers in Ireland, as per EU ACSH Agreement in May 2022, following the monitoring of the European Commission's work and recommendations in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56125/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Covid-19 does not currently 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.

In response to the recommendations made by the Advisory Committee for Safety and Health at Work, the European Commission announced that they would update their list of recommended occupational diseases towards the end of this year.  The Department is monitoring the European Commission's work and recommendations in this regard. 

My Department reviews its supports and schemes regularly 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.