Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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352. To ask the Minister for Health to consider extending the temporary special leave with pay scheme for healthcare workers with prolonged and chronic effects of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35178/25]

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, it was extended for a further 12 months at the end of June 2024 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. This matter has been referred to the Labour Court on 11th of June 2025. As this is an on going Industrial Relations matter it would be inappropriate to comment any further.