Michael Healy-Rae
Question:434. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when persons in the health care sector (details supplied) will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29048/21]
View answerThursday, 1 July 2021
Questions (434)
Written answers
In line with the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers and Employees re Covid, special leave with pay is used in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 where a public health sector employee is advised to self-isolate and is displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or had a positive COVID-19 test result.
Where a public health sector employee meets the above criteria and normally is in receipt of premia payments re unsocial hours in respect of rostering, this is included in the calculation of special leave with pay in line with HSE HR Circular 064/2020 which can be viewed online here: HR Circular 064 2020 Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 (hse.ie)
Special leave with pay does not apply to public health sector employees who are restricting their movements, or are self-isolating due to being a close contact of a variant of concern, or who are in the very high risk category and are cocooning, and the alternative arrangements for this cohort are available to view as part of the Quick Guide of scenarios as part of the DPER Guide document, and this can be viewed online here: gov.ie - Update (16 June) on working arrangements and leave associated with COVID-19 for Civil and Public Service (www.gov.ie)
In relation to any delay that may have occurred in respect of premia payments, as this element of the question is operational in nature, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently unable to access the information to answer Parliamentary Questions due to the recent cyber-attack, which has required a temporary shut-down of HSE IT systems. The disruption to service is on-going, and the HSE is working hard to restore its IT capacity and resume normal services. Members of the Oireachtas will be advised as soon as the HSE is again in a position to provide responses to PQs and are encouraged to resubmit their Parliamentary Questions at that point.