Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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700.To ask the Minister for Health the existing policies to support medical staff who have contracted long-Covid and are now unable to work; his plans to introduce such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24736/24]

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. At my request this Special Scheme was extended several times, most recently in March 2024, when the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) granted a final extension, permitting the Special Scheme to run until the end of June 2024. DPENDPR have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted.

Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell beyond that date, may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support. Employees who did not qualify for the Special Scheme but are also impacted by Long-Covid may also utilise the supports of the sick leave scheme.

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.

Supports for employees impacted by Long-Covid (both those who qualified for the Special Scheme and those who did not qualify) has been the subject of an industrial relations claim from health sector staff representative bodies. The Labour Court recommended that the parties engage to explore the 'existing supports available' for impacted staff. Engagements have taken place in that context, however the matter has again been referred to the Workplace Relations Commission where further conciliation is ongoing.