Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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726. To ask the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to pay the special leave with pay for Covid-19 to staff as agreed earlier this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59493/22]

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 (currently 7 days), for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid.

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

Employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme will have transferred to the Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of any occasions of non-payment of SLWP where it is due, for example where the Deputy is suggesting that this is taking place in the Ambulance Service in Donegal.