Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

808. To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements made under the waiver of pension abatement for front-line staff in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination programme; the length of time the waiver was in place for; when the waiver concluded; if his Department made those impacted by the waiver aware of its conclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29946/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On 10 March 2020, my Department informed the HSE that, following engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform (DPER), approval was given under Section 52(4) of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 for a temporary waiver of pension abatement for retirees who returned to work as critical front-line healthcare staff during the Covid emergency.

The HSE has confirmed that support provided to the vaccination programme was carried out via the national recruitment campaign. The individuals appointed to this programme were agency workers in respect of whom pension abatement did not apply.

The initial approval for the waiver of pension abatement for health sector retirees was granted up to 30 June 2020. However, given the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic and the uncertainty of its future course, DPER granted periodic extensions to the temporary blanket waiver following regular reviews by my Department and the HSE.

The temporary blanket waiver of pension abatement continued up to 31 March 2021 when pension abatement policy for the health sector returned to normal in line with other sectors. This was conveyed on 15 January 2021 by my Department to the National Director of Human Resources, HSE by Department of Health Circular 1/2021.

Following the conclusion of the temporary blanket waiver, requests by HSE for waivers of pension abatement have been considered on a case-by-case basis under normal pension abatement policy rules that apply across the public and civil service.

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

809. To ask the Minister for Health the amount of overpayment made to healthcare workers since the conclusion of the waiver of pension abatement for front-line staff in the context of the Covid-19 vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29947/24]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is a matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.