Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 February 2023
200. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the number of healthcare workers known to be currently out of work due to long-Covid symptoms; his plans to devise a scheme that would grant financial security to those healthcare workers with long-Covid who contracted the virus in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7690/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of numbers absent.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have provided for Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) for the recommended isolation period (currently 7 days), for civil and public servants nationally who contract Covid. SLWP provides for paid leave, including full pay, any fixed allowances payable as well as premium payments. For certain employees who remain unfit to attend the workplace and are suffering from long-Covid, a temporary scheme, specific to the public health service was introduced to provide for Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post Covid infection. The full details of the Scheme and associated criteria for eligibility is available to view online here www.hse.ie/eng/staff/resources/hr-circulars/hr-circular-022-2022-temporary-scheme-of-paid-leave-for-public-health-service-employees-unfit-for-work-post-c-19-infection-updated.html. Employees who met the eligibility criteria for the Scheme will have transferred to the Scheme retrospectively from 1st July 2022. For those who do not meet the criteria for the temporary Scheme but remain unwell, the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme may be utilised.
