Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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822. To ask the Minister for Health when it is proposed that the frontline staff in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will receive their pandemic payment; the reason for the delay [6310/25]

Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to workers in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service for the important work they carry out every day.

In January 2022 the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic.

Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation. I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:

• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
  1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
  2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
  3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
  4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
  5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
  6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.