Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
268. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has considered making amendments to the public sector sick pay scheme or occupational injury and illness schemes in relation to long Covid; if so, if a cost estimate or range of estimates will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4420/21]
View answerAmendments have not been made to the Public Sector Sick Leave Scheme or to occupational injury schemes as a result of COVID as public sector employees absent from work due to COVID-19 get Special Leave With Pay (SLWP) rather than sick pay.
The arrangements for pay of public servants who fall ill with COVID-19 was set out clearly by DPER at the outset of the crisis to protect public health and encourage disclosure of COVID-19 symptoms. The decision to award SLWP was made from a public health perspective: so that employees affected by COVID-19 would report symptoms regardless of whether they had high sick leave or not. This minimises a risk of staff with a high sick leave record not reporting symptoms by decoupling arrangements from the standard sick leave limits.
The current arrangements for SLWP are as follows:
- Where an employee had been in the work premises (outside the home) during the 14 days prior to contracting COVID, SLWP may be paid, including for long COVID, where necessary and for as long as needed.
- Where an employee has not been in the work premises in the 14 days prior to contracting COVID SLWP may continue for up to 28 days. If an employee is still unwell after 28 days they will move to ordinary sick leave arrangements.
The arrangements relating to the application of special leave with pay for COVID-19 are kept under regular review.
