David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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447. To ask the Minister for Health the plans regarding special leave with pay for Covid-19; and the number of people who will lose this payment at the end of the year and transition to the public sector sick leave scheme. [62413/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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After a hearing in the Labor Court in June, it was recommended that a final extension of the current Special Scheme to the 31st of December 2025, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. 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. 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. There are currently 159 Health Care workers availing of the scheme of Special Leave with pay.