3325. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1060 of 12 May, to provide an update on the ongoing consideration of longer-term measures to support healthcare workers who have been unable to return to work due to long-Covid; the timeline being worked towards to advance new measures; the engagements she has had with the Minister for Social Protection regarding such measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55806/26]

In response to a meeting that took place with the Taoiseach, INMO and the Department of Health, the HSE issued a Circular to all Managers on the 1st of May 2026 instructing them to look favourably at applications for CIP. The focus across the health system remains on supporting people to recover and return to work where possible, including through reasonable workplace accommodations and phased returns. I can confirm that the Department of Health is working closely with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation (DPER), as well as the Health Service Executive on the matter.