Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is any update on her Department's position regarding the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease for frontline health care 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. [25480/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Section 87 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 legislates for the Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme for persons injured by an accident at work or caused by a prescribed disease due to the nature of their employment. The Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme is a compensation and income support provided by my Department.

Covid-19 is not currently a prescribed disease or illness under this scheme. 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.

My Department is aware of the recommendation of the European Commission regarding Covid-19. The decision on whether or not to recognise an illness as an occupational illness is a Member State competence and in this regard, it should be noted that the European Commission has not made a recommendation about recognising long-COVID, but rather recognising COVID-19.

I have consulted with other relevant departments and ministers on the matter, and the responses received are currently under consideration.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.