Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1360. To ask the Minister for Health the position of his Department regarding pay for those healthcare workers who contracted long-Covid and who have been and are still certified as medically unfit for work. [16395/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

The full details of the Scheme and associated criteria for eligibility is available to view online here www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-022-2022-temporary-scheme-of-paid-leave-for-public-health-service-employees-unfit-for-work-post-c-19-infection-updated.html

Employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme transferred to the Scheme retrospectively from 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 understand that Minister Humphreys has committed to undertake a review in respect of the EU Health and Safety at Work Committee recommendation in respect of the possible recognition of Covid as occupational in nature, however the clinical understanding of long-Covid is still emerging.

I am acutely aware of the issues experienced by public health employees in relation to long-Covid and am committed to providing support.