Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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61. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that public servants who contracted long-Covid due to their work commitments and who will be unable to resume employment for a considerable length of time, if at all, will be provided with proper financial supports taking into account their employment income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62454/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, my area of responsibility covers the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.

The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:

A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one-year period

Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one-year period

Subject to an overriding threshold of 183 days’ paid sick leave in a rolling four-year period

For those individuals who may become incapacitated as a result of critical illness or serious physical injury, and who have supporting medical evidence for an extended period of sick leave, they may, on an exceptional basis, be granted paid sick leave extended as follows:

A maximum of 183 days on full pay in a rolling one-year period

Followed by a maximum of 182 days on half pay in a rolling one-year period

Subject to an overriding threshold of 365 days’ paid sick leave in a rolling four-year period

The Protocol does not distinguish between critical conditions. Access is based on the established criteria as per Part 4 of S.I. 124/2014 (Public Service Management [Sick Leave] Regulations 2014) and as laid out in relevant circulars.