Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
298. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health on behalf of a person (details supplied) the reason an employee is told they are not entitled to the pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30246/23]
View answerLast year the Government announced a once-off, ex-gratia COVID-19 pandemic recognition payment for certain frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. Eligibility criteria for the payment were set following significant consideration and consultation.
While the Department does not comment on individual cases, I can confirm that in order to receive the recognition payment, staff must have:
• Been in COVID vaccination cohorts 1 or 2, and
• Worked ordinarily onsite in a COVID-19 exposed healthcare environment, and
• Worked for at least 4 weeks in the 1/3/2020 – 30/6/2021 period, and
• Worked in a HSE/Section 38 organisation, or one of the following:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary,Section 39 etc.);
2. Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, working on-site;
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 frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedic staff employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
Only those staff who meet all of the above eligibility criteria are covered for this payment.
The HSE is working on rolling out the payment as a priority with assistance from KOSI corp, 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 as the Department of Health cannot comment on individual cases.
