Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
27. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health what oversight he has of pandemic special recognition payments to ensure that those who are entitled to this payment have received it; if there is a process in place for healthcare workers who believe they are entitled to the pandemic special recognition payment but have not received a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26724/23]
View answerIn January last year, the Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for eligible frontline healthcare staff in the HSE, Section 38 organisations, and other specific cohorts as follows:
• 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;
• Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
• Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
For the public health service, rollout is now substantially complete, with over 90,000 HSE staff and 52,500 Section 38 staff paid.
Funding was transferred to the Department of Defence and to Dublin City Council in November, and payment to these groups is understood to be complete.
Regarding the non-public cohorts, funding has been made available in respect of 64,000 staff. To date 92% of organisations’ first claims have been evaluated.
If any eligible staff of covered employers are yet to receive the payment, I would advise that they get in touch with their relevant HR contacts to find out about their employer's implementation of the payment.
Finally I would like to thank all healthcare workers for their extraordinary efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
