Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1181. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to keep the model of care for long-Covid under review, as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24323/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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The interim Long COVID Model of Care is currently under review by the HSE.

The National Clinical Programme for Infectious Diseases established a Working Group to review the interim Long COVID Model of Care, with the group meeting for the first time in December 2024. The Working Group continues to meet, with its next meeting due to be held next month. The membership of this working group includes clinicians, health and social care professionals (HSCPs) and patient representatives.

The work of this group is informed by its expert membership, the results of a major study into the prevalence of Long COVID published by the HSE in December 2024, a previously published systematic review of interventions to improve Long COVID symptoms and other relevant evidence.

Information on the aforementioned publications can be found at the links below:

www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/5/publichealth/publichealthdepts/research/long-covid-study/

www.hiqa.ie/hiqa-news-updates/hiqa-reviews-interventions-improve-symptoms-long-covid

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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1182. To ask the Minister for Health her plans to provide support to those who cannot return to work due to long-Covid, following the expiry of the special scheme in June 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24324/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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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 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 Department of Public Expenditure, NDP and Reform (DPENDPR) have been very clear that this was the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025.

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. 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.