Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
983. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if section 39 disability service providers will be included in the €1,000 Covid recognition payment particularly those working in an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14596/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The Government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021. Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices (eg: nursing homes and hospices that are private, public, section 39, voluntary etc.) that were affected by Covid-19. The measure also encompasses those eligible working on site in long term residential care facilities for people with disabilities (inclusive of those facilities whether HSE or section 39). Arrangements for this sector encompassed by this measure are currently being progressed by the Department of Health and HSE.
As the HSE is not the employer in these instances, the arrangements will require further analysis before finalising. It is important for the Deputy to note that eligibility will be subject to a number of factors and not solely based on individual healthcare employers / organisations.
