Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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1508. To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the ongoing sick pay dispute HSE employees diagnosed with long-Covid who contracted Covid-19 in the workplace are currently engaged with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13867/23]

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 on 1st July 2022.

For those who do not meet the criteria for the temporary Scheme but remain unwell, the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme may be utilised.

I am acutely aware of the issues experienced by public health employees in relation to Long Covid and I am committed to providing support. Department officials are working to establish a process for engagement with stakeholders to analyse how support could be provided going forward.