Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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799. To ask the Minister for Health if she will consider extending special leave with pay for those who worked on the front line during the pandemic, contracted long-Covid and as a result are still suffering from serious health issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35837/25]

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 special scheme was due to conclude on the 30th of June 2025. However, the Labour Court has today recommended a final extension of the current Special Scheme to run up to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.