Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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446. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she can detail the supports that are available for a public sector employee diagnosed with a serious illness (details supplied) who does not qualify for any payments from their employer, the HSE, because of previous use of critical illness benefit, and who has paid PRSI contributions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25610/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A public sector worker who is certified by their GP as being unfit to attend work due to illness and who has paid sufficient Class A PRSI contributions in the relevant tax years can qualify for Illness Benefit.

In instances where the particular absence is expected to last for a period of at least 12 months, then the person may qualify for Invalidity Pension which is a PRSI contribution-based scheme or Disability Allowance which is a means-tested scheme.

If the person does not qualify for any of the schemes mentioned above and is encountering difficulties in meeting their basic financial commitments, it is open to them to contact the Community Welfare Service at their local Intreo Centre to see if they might qualify for assistance under the terms of the means-tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.