The programme for Government makes reference to supporting our healthcare workers, which is only right. In January of this year the Government announced a bonus payment for the healthcare workers who did Trojan work during the pandemic. I want to know when the workers will receive this payment and if the Taoiseach will ensure all healthcare workers are included in it.

My understanding is that the vast majority of those working in the HSE have received their payment. There are some groups that have not received it yet. The vast majority of those eligible who are employed by the HSE have now received a payment and this includes many section 38 staff. That amounts to approximately 123,000 staff who have received their payment. In terms of non-HSE healthcare workers, the HSE is working on getting capacity to assist with the payment process in respect of private sector nursing home staff, hospice staff, private voluntary staff, section 39 staff, eligible staff working on-site in section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities, people in agency roles working in the HSE and healthcare support assistants contracted to the HSE. That work is under way now to get those sorted and we said to the HSE that we want this done as quickly as possible.