Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2022
501. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health the reason that the Covid-19 special recognition payments for nursing home staff have still to be processed; when these vital front-line workers will receive this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46897/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The vast majority of eligible HSE and Section 38 staff have received the Pandemic Recognition Payment, with approximately 123,549 such staff having received the payment by 16th September 2022.
The HSE and the Department have been examining progressing the rollout of the Pandemic Recognition Payment to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments. This shall cover eligible staff in:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
In relation to eligible staff in cohorts 1-4 above, the HSE is tendering for an external provider to assist in setting up and implementing the process of gathering required information from the relevant employers to facilitate payment to their eligible staff. This is a complex process as these staff are not HSE employees, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations involved. Once a provider is contracted and details on this payment process are published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
