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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Pandemic bonus for CASP staff

Summary

Deputy Ward sought pandemic bonus payments for Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme staff who worked through Covid but were excluded from HSE bonus payments. The Minister said he was unfamiliar with the specific case and would refer it to the Health Minister.

I will bring up the matter of pandemic bonus payments for workers in the Clondalkin Addiction Support Programme, CASP. It is a unique service in Clondalkin whereby a person with an addiction issue can avail of both medical and holistic treatments. Its methadone dispensing clinic caters for approximately 70 clients on a daily basis in respect of harm reduction. This clinic did not close during the Covid pandemic when HSE and CASP staff worked side by side. HSE staff have rightly and deservedly received their pandemic bonus payments. However, CASP staff who worked alongside them have not. The board of CASP has written to the HSE and I wrote to the Minister regarding this matter. We have not received an adequate answer or explanation. Will the Minister explain why this has happened? Will he ensure that the HSE recognises the vital service these workers provided during the pandemic?

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There are many addiction services throughout the country. I am chair of the North Dublin Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force. I see the work done in addiction services throughout the country and in the area in which I live, which is invaluable and continued during the course of the pandemic. I am not familiar with the specific case the Deputy raised regarding the Clondalkin addiction service. If he provides the details to me, I will certainly raise it with the Minister for Health and ask him to respond directly to him.

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