379. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Social Protection the income supports available to people who are unable to work, or whose capacity to work is significantly reduced, as a result of long Covid; and whether consideration has been given to the particular long-term financial impact of long Covid on affected individuals. [66317/26]

In November 2023, my Department published a report on the inclusion of long COVID in the Occupational Injuries Benefit Regulations.

The report concluded that COVID-19 does not satisfy the statutory criteria for recognition as an occupational illness or accident at work. Specifically, it found that presumptions about workplace transmission would not be sustainable as it is not possible to establish with confidence that the disease has been contracted through a person’s occupation and not through community transmission. This is because data show that community transmission was the primary means of transmission.

It is important to note that, even if Ireland did recognise COVID-19 as an occupational disease, this would not encompass long COVID and would only apply to new claims for new cases of COVID-19. As such, it would not benefit those who contracted COVID-19 during the pandemic.

With specific reference to workers in the health services, the report found that the Temporary Scheme of Paid Leave for Public Health Service Employees was the appropriate channel through which a targeted sectoral support should be considered. This Temporary Scheme was a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, who extended it a number of times. The Scheme ended on 31 December 2025. Any employee of the public health sector remaining unwell after that date may utilise the full provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme which will provide further support.

My Department's range of income supports, including Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension, at the same or higher rates of payment as Occupational Injuries Benefit, are available to people who cannot work due to the effects of long COVID and who satisfy the Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contribution requirements. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is not dependent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impacts a working age person’s capacity to work.

With regard to additional supports, my Department also provides Additional Needs Payments under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme to help meet essential expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.