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Press release

Minister Donnelly welcomes roll out of the Pandemic Special Recognition Payment to Frontline Public Sector Healthcare Workers

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly today welcomed developments that have been made to implement the government decision to provide a Covid Recognition Payment to eligible public service healthcare and ambulance workers, in recognition of their efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister Donnelly said:

"I welcome the significant efforts made to progress the payment of this measure. This is the result of extensive work by officials in my department and the HSE, as well as consultations between the HSE, Department of Health and health sector trade unions. The necessary circulars to activate this payment have been finalised and will be published by the HSE early next week.

"The payment will be made as soon as possible to those who are confirmed as eligible, through the next available payroll, subject to local processes.

"This measure was introduced as a token of the appreciation and gratitude that myself, my colleagues in Government and the Irish people have for the ongoing efforts of our frontline public sector healthcare workers to protect us all from the worst impacts of COVID-19. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all involved – in particular our frontline public sector healthcare workers and the unions who represent them – for their patience and extensive engagement while this important once off measure was progressed.

"A further phase of this payment will include arrangements for paying those eligible staff that are not employed by the HSE / Section 38 agencies (for example: Private Sector Nursing Homes / Hospices). Further details of this phase will be announced in due course."

Notes

On 19 January last, the government announced a COVID-19 recognition payment for eligible frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The announcement also made provision for a pro-rata application of the payment.

Summary eligibility

Employees who, between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021, worked in an environment which warranted their inclusion in Sequence Group 1 and 2 for the vaccination programme.

The value to each eligible employee is based on your contracted hours between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021 and will be pro-rated on the following basis:

  • employees whose contracted hours are equal to or greater than 60% WTE for their grade shall receive €1,000
  • employees whose contracted hours are less than 60% WTE for their grade shall receive €600

Employees who worked less than 4 weeks in total during the period are not in scope.

Full details shall be published by the HSE next week.

Examples of healthcare workers in scope

Subject to eligibility mentioned above, general examples of healthcare workers that will benefit from this measure include:

  • Health Care Assistants
  • Support Staff employed by HSE/Section 38 employers such as Cleaners / Maintenance / Porters/Catering/Clinical Waste/CSSD
  • Ambulance (Paramedics) staff
  • Administration staff that meet the criteria, for example: ED Reception, OPD staff
  • Consultants
  • Nurses/Midwives
  • Medical Laboratory staff
  • Health and Social Care Professionals
  • NCHDs
  • Swabbers
  • Vaccinators
  • Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support)

This list is not exhaustive.

Non HSE / Non Section 38

Separately, the Department of Health shall shortly publish further information for those other employees that are covered by the government decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This information shall cover:

  • Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (for example: Private, Voluntary, Section 39)
  • eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities
  • agency roles working in the HSE
  • Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE
  • redeployed members of Department of Defence to work in the HSE
  • paramedics employed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

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