Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2022
563. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the special leave with pay arrangements are to cease in June 2022 for nurses who contracted Covid-19 in the course of their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20161/22]
View answer565. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of special leave with pay for healthcare workers; if there are plans to extend the scheme beyond the end of June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20198/22]
View answer566. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will consider extending the special leave with pay scheme for front-line workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20202/22]
View answer571. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the special leave with pay payment that many health care workers are currently in receipt of is due to be terminated in June 2022; if he will consider extending this payment in order that health care workers do not have their normal sick pay days eroded, particularly given that many of them are still coping with the symptoms of long-Covid after having contracted Covid-19 in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20500/22]
View answer573. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will set out the Government position regarding frontline health workers who contracted Covid-19 and continue to be out of work due to long Covid; and if they will have their special leave with pay terminated in June 2022. [20691/22]
View answer574. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if discussions are expected for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid that they contracted through their work in healthcare settings, that their special leave with pay will be extended until they are fit to return to work as it is causing a lot of stress and anxiety to these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20830/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 563, 565, 566, 571, 573 and 574 together.
Special leave with pay is currently used in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 across the public service to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises. The arrangements relating to the application of special leave with pay for COVID-19 is a temporary measure which has been kept under regular review and has changed in a timely and responsive manner throughout the pandemic.
My officials are continuing to keep Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 for public service employees under regular review, taking into account the evolving circumstances and Government and public health advice.
While Special Leave with Pay is currently available for self-isolation and where someone has been diagnosed with COVID-19, for certain time periods, public service employees may access the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme thereafter. The arrangements for paid sick leave are available at appendix A.
As outlined, Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19 applies across the Public Service, it is not unique to the Health sector. Special Leave with Pay was introduced at the outset of the pandemic to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the work premises. Special Leave with Pay does not identify how or where an individual may have contracted Covid-19. The rehabilitation of employees is a matter for each individual sector.
Appendix A:
The Public Service Sick Leave Scheme provides for the payment of the following to staff during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:
- A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one year period
- Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one year period
- Subject to a maximum of 183 days paid sick leave in a rolling four year period
- There is access to additional sick leave in certain circumstances as provided by the Critical Illness Protocol.
