Written answers
Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Department of Health
Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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198. To ask the Minister for Health the reason Government is now choosing to unilaterally end the Covid-19 related special leave scheme and is refusing to work with unions to agree on a replacement that can provide the necessary level and duration of support while frontline healthcare workers remain unable to return to work due to long-Covid. [10876/24]
Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme has been in place since July 2022 to provide special leave with pay for eligible staff in respect of Long Covid.
This temporary Special Scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently in October 2023, when the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform granted a final extension, permitting the Special Scheme to run until 31st March 2024.
DPENDPR's sanction to extend the Scheme to that date was contingent on the sanction being the final sanction that would be provided, and as such the Special Scheme will conclude on 31st March.
Employees impacted by the conclusion of the Special Scheme received an individual notification of this from their employer last week, as well as notification that any employee remaining unwell after that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further financial support.
The sick leave scheme provides full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and after that, Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration may be applied for, which, if granted, provides up to a further 547 days of paid leave. The Critical Illness Protocol that forms part of the sick leave scheme may also provide extended financial supports if granted.
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