Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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633. To ask the Minister for Health if he will engage with trade unions regarding extending the temporary scheme of paid leave for public health service employees unfit for work post-Covid-19 infection; the supports available to front-line workers unable to work due to the impact of having contracted Covid-19, and particularly long-Covid, should the scheme not be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16010/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In the public health sector, a temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long COVID-19. At the request of the Department of Health this Special Scheme was extended several times, most recently in October 2023, when the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) granted a final extension, permitting the Special Scheme to run until 31 March 2024. DPENDPR have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and the Special Scheme concluded on 31 March 2024.

Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further 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 additional supports if granted.

There has been extensive engagement between the parties in recent months regarding the conclusion of the temporary Special Scheme following a recommendation from the Labour Court. However, the matter has been referred back to the Workplace Relations Commission by the staff representative bodies, where the parties will engage further.