Covid-19 Pandemic Supports
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-26
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Alan Dillon (FG), Mayo

I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is great to get an opportunity to provide an update and acknowledge the extraordinary role played by healthcare workers in protecting us during the pandemic.
In recognition of those exceptional circumstances, a special scheme was introduced in July 2022 to support eligible public health sector staff who developed long Covid. This was a temporary and exceptional measure, unique to the health sector, designed to acknowledge the particular risks faced by staff working in high-exposure environments before PPE, vaccination and widespread community transmission were established. While the scheme was extended on several occasions at the request of the Minister for Health, the Labour Court recommended a final extension in June 2025 and the scheme concluded on 31 December 2025. By that point, employees remaining on the scheme had received support at full pay for almost five years through a combination of special leave with pay and the special scheme itself.
Importantly, and I want to be very clear on this point, the conclusion of the special scheme does not mean that supports have ended. Staff who remain unfit to return to work have moved into the public service sick leave scheme, ensuring continuity of both care and financial protection. Since the conclusion of the special scheme, 104 employees have transitioned to the public service sick leave scheme, while a further 57 have returned to work, including through phased return arrangements. Under the public service sick leave scheme, staff may receive full pay for three months, followed by half pay for a further three months. They then have the option to apply for temporary rehabilitative remuneration, which can provide up to an additional 547 days of paid leave. In addition, the critical illness protocol may provide supports for up to three years, where the relevant criteria are met.
Beyond financial supports, staff are also entitled to reasonable workplace accommodations to assist with their return to work. This may include modified duties or adjusted working patterns during rehabilitation. These measures are intended to ensure that staff are supported, not only financially but also in practical terms, as they recover and reintegrate into the workplace. All illnesses are treated equally under the public service sick leave regulations. This equity is a fundamental part of the public service sick leave scheme and avoids any perception that one illness or condition is more serious than others.
The Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for these regulations and schemes. He has reviewed the EU recommendation on recognising Covid-19 as an occupational illness and has determined that it does not meet the criteria required for recognition under the social welfare Acts. While many other countries did recognise Covid-19 as an occupational illness, this related to Covid-19 itself rather than long Covid. From the information available, it is not clear that any country provided sustained full-pay supports for long Covid comparable to Ireland’s special scheme.
While many staff members have already returned to work, the Minister is conscious that others continue to face difficulties. As such, she will meet with the Minister for Social Protection with a view to exploring what supports, if any, may be accessed by those facing long-term challenges in returning to work.

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Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-26