Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
1124. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the European Union decision to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease in health and social care settings; the measures that are being considered in the Irish context and in particular for those impacted by long-Covid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43027/22]
View answerCovid-19 does not constitute a prescribed disease or illness as set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 as it does not meet the criteria laid down in the Act. Section 87 (2) of the Act states that a disease or injury shall be prescribed for the purposes of this section in relation to any insured persons, where the Minister is satisfied that-
(a) it ought to be treated, having regard to its causes and any other relevant considerations, as a risk of their occupations and not as a risk common to all persons, and
(b) it is such that, in the absence of special circumstances, the attribution of particular cases to the nature of the employment can be established or presumed with reasonable certainty.
My Department is aware of the work of the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) regarding the recognition of COVID-19 as an occupational disease. My Department is monitoring the Commission's work and recommendations in this regard and understands that they are expected to be updated towards the end of this year.
My Department reviews its supports and schemes to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy, legislative and budgetary context.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
