Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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650. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the long covid special leave with pay scheme; if it will be extended passed December 2025; if the Government will recognise long covid as an occupational illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64944/25]

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. While the EU Advisory Committee on Health and Safety recommended the recognition of COVID-19 (not long-COVID) as an occupational illness in health and social care settings, recognition of COVID-19 nationally as an occupational illness falls under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection. After reviewing the EU recommendation, the Minister for Social Protection found 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.