Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
35. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the total number of the Defence Force members who are eligible to receive the Covid pandemic recognition payment; the total number who have received the payment to date (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4947/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra39. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the arrangements that have been made to ensure that former members of the Defence Forces who were involved in the Covid-19 response, for example, administering vaccines, and met the criteria to be categorised as frontline workers, will receive the €1,000 pandemic bonus payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4775/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 39 together.
In January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Payment for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, with the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
The payment is not subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The Government announcement also made provision for a pro-rata application of the payment. The payment amounts to €1,000 for those eligible staff who worked at least 60% Whole Time Equivalent (WTE), for at least 4 weeks during the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021, and €600 for below 60% WTE. Those who worked less than 4 weeks are not in scope of the measure.
The measure is ring-fenced to eligible staff that were ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments during the pandemic. In terms of Defence Forces personnel, this means members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE.
Work to identify all COVID-related duties undertaken by members of the Defence Forces was completed by Military Management as an initial step in identifying personnel who may be eligible for this recognition payment. Significant engagement subsequently took place between officials from the Department of Defence and the Department of Health to determine which of these duties were deemed "in scope" and therefore eligible for this payment, under the Department of Health's scheme.
To date, on the basis of those eligibility criteria, 467 Defence Forces Personnel have been paid the full €1,000 Pandemic Recommendation Payment. This figure includes a number of 55 recently retired or discharged members of the Defence Forces, who were also deemed eligible, having carried out duties deemed in scope. In addition, officials in my Department have advised me that a further 20 members of the Defence Forces will be paid the recognition payment on 8 February next, 4 of whom are recently retired or discharged.
I can assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to ensure that Pandemic Recognition payments continue to be made to eligible Defence Forces members in the shortest possible timeframe, and that assessment remains ongoing where eligible personnel are identified by Military Management.
It is important to note however, that ultimate interpretation of the scheme remains a matter for the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
