Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Occupational Injuries Benefit scheme is provided by my Department under Section 87 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The scheme provides a range of benefits in the form of compensation or income supports to those injured by an accident at work or travelling to and from work, or who contracted a prescribed disease at work.

COVID-19 is not 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.

I have consulted with relevant departments and ministers regarding the prescription of COVID-19, including the Minister for Health, and the responses received are currently under consideration.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.