Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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1451. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No 674 of 28 March 2023, if he will provide the following (details supplied) acknowledging that this information does not conflict with the workings of industrial relations processes underway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16771/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I am acutely aware of the issues experienced by public health employees in relation to Long Covid and I am committed to providing support.

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has provided for Special Leave with Pay 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 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.

The matter regarding Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 has been discussed with representative bodies in a number of forums since June 2022. The matter has now been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission for further engagement.