Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022
674. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Health if the special leave with pay scheme will be extended for healthcare workers with long Covid; the engagement that his Department has had with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on this issue; if long Covid will be deemed as an occupational injury; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35444/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe change to Special Leave with Pay (SLWP) re Covid-19 that came into effect on 1 July 2022 is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform who had originally introduced SLWP re Covid as a temporary scheme.
Officials from my Department have engaged with the Health Service Executive and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to develop a proposal for a scheme for public health service employees in respect of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees unfit for work post COVID-19 infection.
An offer of direct engagement between the management side and the health sector staff representative bodies in respect of the Scheme has been made, which I hope can be concluded quickly.
It would be inappropriate to make any further statement on the matter until that engagement is concluded.
