Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 September 2021
88. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Defence the role that members of the Reserve Defence Forces played at vaccination centres during the pandemic; the number of members that were stationed at vaccination centres; the number of hours they worked; the payment they received; and if no payment was received, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45611/21]
View answerAt the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government COVID-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies. The Defence Forces are also represented on the High Level Task Force for Covid-19 Vaccination and continue to provide transportation and logistical supports to the HSE in the rollout of the Covid 19 vaccination programme.
A number of Reserve Defence Force (RDF) members are currently engaged, on a voluntary basis and where personal circumstances allow, in authorised COVID-19 activities in a supporting role to the response of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to the COVID19 crisis. In this regard, members of the Reserve served a total of 1,457 Covid-related days in 2020 with a further 778 such days served by RDF members in 2021, to the end of August. Members of the Reserve are paid in such circumstances and their support is welcomed.
To date, three members of the RDF have been involved in vaccinating at vaccination centres. They have completed 26 shifts, each of 12 hours duration. All such RDF personnel receive the corresponding day’s duty pay for each shift, equivalent to that of their PDF colleagues, plus the applicable COVID-19 allowance for their engagement in a pandemic related activity.
