Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1381. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the steps that he will take to ensure that the promised bonus to those who worked on the frontline during Covid-19 including those in section 38 funded projects, is paid without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28828/22]
View answer1727. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to fact that many health service workers entitled to the €1,000 Covid-19 pandemic bonus have still not received the payment; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30117/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1381 and 1727 together.
On January 19th, the Government announced a COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Following extensive engagement with healthcare unions on the matter, the HSE published eligibility guidelines and FAQs on 19th April, which are available on its website: hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-012-2022-pandemic-special-recognition-payment.html
Work is now well underway by the HSE, individual hospitals and CHOs to use the funding allocated by government and ensure prompt payment. I have been assured that all HSE and Section 38 organisations are in process of actioning the payment to those staff that have been deemed eligible to receive it, and that this is receiving priority attention across services. Thousands of staff have been paid already, with a number of local sites having already paid many all of their eligible staff.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/S38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. Rolling out the payment to eligible non-HSE and non-Section 38 employees is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered.
Officials in my Department and the HSE are prioritising the work needed to progress this. They shall shortly publish information for those certain non-HSE/S38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
- Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
- Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
- Agency roles working in the HSE;
- Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
- Redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments for the HSE;
- Paramedics employed by the Department of Local Government, Housing and Heritage.
