Pádraig Rice (Cork South-Central, Social Democrats)
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101. To ask the Minister for Health if she will reconsider her decision not to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers with long-Covid past 31 December 2025; if she will bring forward a permanent scheme for this small group of frontline workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [64322/25]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I want to thank the Deputy for raising this important matter.

We should once again acknowledge the extraordinary role our healthcare workers played during the pandemic. They went far beyond the call of duty — working on the frontline, treating COVID-positive patients, and doing so in those early days when the protections we now take for granted were not yet in place. Their courage and commitment can never be forgotten.

In recognition of this, a temporary special scheme was introduced in July 2022 to support eligible staff affected by long-COVID in the public health sector, a scheme that no other sector had. This scheme was designed to support those who had worked in high-risk environments before PPE and vaccinations were widely available, and before community transmission became more prevalent.

At present, around 159 employees remain on the scheme. The majority of whom have been supported with full pay for almost five years now. My Department has consistently worked to ensure these staff were looked after, and at our request, the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has agreed to extend the scheme several times since its introduction.

Following a Labour Court hearing in June of this year, a final extension was recommended. The scheme will now run until 31 December 2025, when it will formally conclude. Importantly, this does not mean that supports will end. Staff who remain unfit to return to work will move seamlessly into the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, ensuring continuity of care and financial protection.

Under that scheme, staff receive full pay for three months, followed by half pay for three months, and then have the option to apply for Temporary Rehabilitative Remuneration, which can provide up to a further 547 days of paid leave. In addition, the Critical Illness Protocol may provide supports for up to three years.

Finally, I am aware that the Minister for Social Protection has reviewed the EU recommendation on recognising COVID-19 as an occupational illness. It has been determined that COVID-19 does not meet the criteria required for recognition under the Social Welfare Acts.