Long Covid leave scheme
Deputy Harkin criticised the ending of the special paid leave scheme for long Covid, particularly for affected nurses. The Tánaiste said the temporary scheme had been extended several times, that staff had been advised to use public service sick leave, and that the issue was under claim by representative bodies.
I want to raise the issue of the termination of the special scheme of paid leave for those who suffer from long Covid. In fairness, the payment has been extended on several occasions over the past number of years. Despite the Minister for Health asking for an extension to the end of June this year, the request was denied by the Minister for public expenditure.
A number of my constituents - nurses - who are on this temporary special scheme have contacted me. With its termination, they now feel totally let down. During the first year or two of Covid, they were fighting an enemy they could not see and they often did so with no PPE. They put their health at risk and now they have the burden of long Covid to deal with. They see themselves as having gone from hero to zero in the space of a few years. They consider that extending the payment is the least the Government can do for those who genuinely put their lives at risk and they want to see long Covid recognised as an occupational illness.
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Deputy is correct in terms of the temporary special scheme having been in place since July 2022. It has been extended on a number of occasions, most recently in October 2023 up to 31 March 2024, and people would have received notification. People have been advised that they may utilise the full provisions of the public service sick leave scheme, which would provide further support.
The matter of the conclusion of this temporary special scheme has been the subject of a claim from the health sector staff representative bodies. The matter has been through the industrial relations machinery, WRC engagements and the Labour Court, with the Labour Court recommending that management meet with the staff representative bodies to explore the supports already in place that are available to those impacted by long Covid. A number of engagements have taken place to date between management and the staff representative bodies in line with the Labour Court recommendation. Hopefully, we might see some outcomes to that.