Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 January 2021
864. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of the introduction of a compensation scheme for healthcare workers who have died from Covid-19 which was announced by his office in July 2020; when the scheme will be launched; the date range for which the scheme will be active; the number of healthcare workers the scheme will apply to; the way in which it will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4414/21]
View answerWork is ongoing in my Department on the development of a death in service scheme to benefit the families of frontline healthcare workers who lose their lives due to COVID-19, where it is likely that they contracted the virus in work.
I intend to bring a proposal to Government in respect of the scheme shortly. Once the scheme has been approved by Government details of the scheme will be made available.
However, I can confirm that the proposed scheme is being developed to apply retrospectively to deaths of all frontline healthcare workers delivering services during the pandemic and who are placed at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 by doing so.
