Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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698. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the levels of support available to those impacted by long-Covid following the final extension of the temporary special scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62775/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. These include contributory payments, based on PRSI contributions, such as illness benefit and invalidity pension, and non-contributory payments, based on a means test, such as disability allowance. Entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. It is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability.

Every application for my Department's schemes is individually assessed, in line with the provisions specified in the relevant social welfare legislation. Assessment is based on the medical information provided by healthcare providers and the claimant and taking into account the opinion of the Department’s Medical Assessor.

Illness benefit is a short-term social insurance scheme. It is available for up to two years for people who have the required social insurance contributions. A GP must submit a Certificate of Incapacity to Work to my Department.

Invalidity pension is a longer-term social insurance scheme, based on PRSI contributions and medical condition. In order to qualify, the person must have been incapable of work for at least 12 months and be likely to be incapable of work for at least another 12 months; or must be permanently incapable of work.

Disability allowance is a longer-term social assistance scheme for people who are aged between 16 and 66. In order to qualify, the person must satisfy a habitual residency condition, a means test and meet the medical requirement. The medical requirement for disability allowance is that the person's disability must be expected to last for at least one year, and the disability must substantially restrict the person’s ability to work.

An additional needs payment under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme may also be available to people to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. This includes certain supplements to assist with ongoing or recurring costs that cannot be met from a person’s own resources and are deemed to be necessary.

With specific reference to employees in the health services affected by long-COVID, the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees provides targeted sectoral support. This Temporary Scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The scheme has been extended a number of times, most recently to conclude on 31 December 2025. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.