Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

221. To ask the Minister for Health the supports currently in place for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid, particularly those who contracted the virus in high-risk front-line settings; and if she will consider introducing a long-term, pensionable support scheme following the conclusion of the special leave with pay scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34854/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It is important to recognise the role that our healthcare workers played during the pandemic. They went beyond the call of duty, working in front-line environments, treating COVID-19 positive patients, particularly in the early days when the control measures that we now take for granted were not yet in place.

In response to this, a Temporary Special Scheme was put in place for 12 months in July 2022 to support eligible staff who were impacted by Long-COVID in the public health sector.

The intention of this scheme was to support those employees working in COVID-19 environments in the time before PPE and vaccinations were readily available.

It is my understanding that there are approximately 159 employees currently on the Special Scheme, the majority of whom have been supported on full pay for almost 5 years now.

My Department has always worked hard to ensure supports have been in place for those workers impacted by long-COVID, and at our request, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER), have agreed to extend the scheme on four occasions already, most recently at the end of June 2024 when it was extended for a further 12 months for the existing cohort of employees already being supported by it.

However, I understand DPER have been clear that this is the final extension that would be granted, and as such, the Special Scheme will conclude on 30th June 2025.

I would like to re-assure those 159 employees who have been supported by the scheme for up to 5 years now, that they will continue to be supported, and the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme will apply for anyone who remains unable to return to work.

The sick leave scheme provides:

- Full pay for three months.

- Half pay for three months, followed by:

- Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration (TRR) can provide 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 for up to 3 years.

I am aware that concerns have been raised by a number of unions about the scheme ending, and I know that the matter was before the Labour Court again on the 11th of June 2025. The findings from this Court hearing are currently awaited.

I am also aware that the Minister for Social Protection has reviewed the EU recommendation in respect of the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness, and I understand that following this review it was determined that COVID-19 did not meet the requirements to be recognised as an occupational illness in the context of the Occupational Injuries Benefit Scheme and the Social Welfare Consolidation Act.