Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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297. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department is considering extending the payment for those health care workers who remain unwell and in cases in which they continue to remain unwell up until July 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57138/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have provided for Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for the recommended isolation period, for all civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments.

For certain employees who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a scheme, specific to the public health service has been introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.

The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and employees who meet the criteria for eligibility for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022. The Scheme is temporary in nature and there is no proposal to extend the scheme beyond the 12 months that commenced on 1st July 2022.

Those who do not meet the eligibility criteria for the temporary Scheme may avail of the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme if they remain unwell.