Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1687. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 906 of 21 June 2022, if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39914/22]
View answerThe Department of Public Expenditure and Reform introduced Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for Covid at the start of the pandemic as a temporary measure to assist in the prevention of the onward spread of Covid in the workplace.
The most recent change to this introduced by DPER means that all of those currently out on SLWP who remain unwell, will have moved to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme from 1st July 2022.
Both the Government and I recognise that the staff of the public health service have gone beyond the call of duty, providing patient care in front-line Covid clinically exposed environments, treating Covid positive patients throughout the most challenging phases of the pandemic. Many of those front-line public health sector workers contracted Covid and continue to suffer from long-Covid and remain unfit to attend the workplace.
On this basis a scheme, specific to the public health service has been developed to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection.
This Scheme will ensure that eligible public health sector employees who remain absent from the workplace re long-Covid, do not experience a ‘cliff edge’ in respect of the revision of SLWP provisions from the 1st July 2022.
The HSE have issued the full details of the Scheme to all public health service employers by circular, and eligible employees will be notified promptly by their employer that they will transfer to the new Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022.
