Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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733. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the criteria for the special scheme for healthcare workers impacted by long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13592/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The eligibility criteria set when the Special Scheme was first introduced were designed to ensure that employees supported by the Special Scheme included those working in a COVID exposed environment in the period before PPE and vaccinations were readily available, and before community transmission became more prevalent.

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 the request of my Department, approval to extend the Special Scheme was granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) a number of times, most recently at the end of June 2024 when it was extended for a further 12 months on the existing terms for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it. The Special scheme will end on the 30th of June 2025.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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734. To ask the Minister for Health to outline the supports available to healthcare workers with long-Covid going forward, who did not qualify for the special scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13593/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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.