Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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1730. To ask the Minister for Health if he will implement the European Commission recommendation that member states recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease if contracted by healthcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17994/23]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.

Currently, Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) is provided for the recommended isolation period, for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid.  

For certain public health sector workers who are suffering from long-Covid, a temporary scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced and employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme will have transferred to the new Scheme in July last year.

I understand that my colleague, Minister Humphreys has committed to reviewing the EU Committee recommendation regarding the occupational recognition of Covid in respect of the Department of Social Protection Benefits Schemes, and the list of prescribed diseases/illnesses set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.  The outcome of this review is awaited.