In early January, the Government announced plans for a special tax-free €1,000 pandemic bonus payment for front-line workers who worked in Covid-19 environments, risking their lives and those of their families to keep the rest of us safe. Nearly nine months later, thousands of workers who are not paid directly by the HSE, such as those working in the private sector, in nursing homes, agency staff, people working in long-term residential care, people working in home help, carers and others, have not received this payment. When will these people see this payment in their bank accounts? We need a date from the Department of Health and we need it to stick to that date. Otherwise, the Government will have to intervene and sort this out as soon as possible. Surely that is the least we owe these people, who risked their lives for us.

As I said earlier, I am not satisfied with the rate at which this payment is being rolled out to staff in nursing homes. I have asked for it to be prioritised for the Defence Forces, the fire brigade and other public sector workers but also for those who worked in the nursing homes. The HSE is concerned because it does not have the level of transparency over these private businesses that it has over community organisations. I have asked for a self-assessment approach whereby the money will be paid out but then, critically, there will be a very detailed audit of all that money afterwards so that any overpayments can be reclaimed and to ensure full transparency from those making the assessments.