Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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933. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection whether there is any update on her Department's position regarding the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease for frontline 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. [17687/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Occupational Injuries Benefit is an income support provided by my Department to those injured at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work. 

Covid-19 does not 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.

The decision on whether to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence.  My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission and is consulting with other relevant departments on the matter. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.