Latest news with #PublicServiceSickLeaveScheme
Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Health
- Irish Times
Long Covid scheme for healthcare workers to be extended after Labour Court recommendation
The special payment scheme for healthcare workers with long Covid will be extended until the end of the year, following a recommendation by the Labour Court . On Thursday, the court recommended a final extension of the current scheme up to December 31st, 2025. The scheme was due to conclude next Monday, June 30th, but the Department of Health has now accepted the Labour Court's recommendation. Earlier on Thursday, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the scheme would finish at the end of this month . READ MORE The scheme provides financial support to healthcare employees who cannot work due to the effects of long Covid. From the start of 2026, anyone still in receipt of the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, the court said. Speaking in the Dáil , Ms Carroll MacNeill said a temporary scheme was put in place in 2022 for healthcare workers who 'went beyond the call of duty, working in frontline environments'. She said the scheme had been extended four times, most recently at the end of June 2024. The Minister said she understood that about 159 employees 'are currently on the special scheme, the majority of whom have been supported on full pay for almost five years'. But, she added: 'I understand the Department of Public Expenditure has been clear, and was clear at the time, that this is the final extension that would be granted. As such, the special scheme will conclude on June 30th, 2025.' However, following the Labour Court's recommendation on Thursday afternoon, the Government decided to extend the scheme once again. Albert Murphy, chairman of the Ictu group of healthcare unions and INMO director of industrial relations, on Thursday said unions were calling on the Government to classify Covid or long Covid as an occupational illness or injury, in line with other EU countries. 'This would remove a barrier identified by the Labour Court to resolving the issue for the small group of healthcare workers who remain affected by long Covid,' Mr Murphy said. In its recommendation, the Labour Court said: 'At this point in time, Covid-19 and long-Covid are not considered occupational illnesses or an injury at work in this jurisdiction' and it is 'not within its gift to determine otherwise'. Long Covid occurs when people who were infected with Covid-19 continue to display symptoms long after the infection is gone. Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, problems with memory and insomnia.
The Journal
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Journal
Long-Covid pay scheme for healthcare workers to be extended to end of the year
THE HEALTH MINISTER has announced that the temporary paid leave scheme for public health workers suffering from long-Covid will be extended until the end of the year. The scheme had been due to end this coming Monday, 30 June. The extension follows a recommendation from the Labour Court in response to a case brought by healthcare unions in a bid to get the government to classify long-Covid as an occupational injury. The Labour Court stated that ' at this point in time, Covid-19 and long-Covid are not considered occupational illnesses or an injury at work in this jurisdiction' and that it is 'not within its gift to determine otherwise'. It did however recommend a final extension of the current scheme to the end of the year, at which point anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme. Long-Covid scheme The Special Scheme of Paid Leave was introduced in July 2022 for eligible healthcare workers suffering from the effects of long-Covid. Long-Covid is when people who have been infected with Covid-19 continue to display symptoms after the infection is gone. The effects can last months, weeks or longer in some cases. Symptoms vary widely but can include extreme tiredness (fatigue), shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, problems with memory and thinking ('brain fog'), problems sleeping (insomnia) and more. While the paid leave scheme for healthcare workers was originally meant to last for a year, it has been extended a number of times since. The scheme was due to come to an end Monday, 30 June but following a Labour Court recommendation that date has been pushed back to 31 December. Advertisement 'Downright disrespectful' In the Dáil today, Labour's Marie Sherlock asked if Health minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill would extend the scheme. Sherlock the 'response to date has been downright disrespectful and degrading to those who gave so much and risked so much at a time of such uncertainty and risk'. Carroll MacNeill noted that the scheme had been extended on four occasions and added that it would 'conclude on 30 June'. She said she was 'aware that concerns have been raised by a number of unions about the scheme ending'. The Health Minister said there are 159 healthcare workers currently on the scheme and in receipt of full pay. Carroll MacNeill said the 'full provisions of the public service sick leave scheme will apply for anyone who remains unable to return to work'. Sherlock replied that the 'refusal to extend this scheme or to put in place a long-term framework for those who contracted Covid in the workplace reflects a shocking lack of empathy and respect for those workers'. She added that the scheme had been a 'lifeline' for those in receipt of it. 'The crucial point is that these workers have ultimately been told they are five years on and to get over it, but that is not their lived reality,' said Sherlock. Meanwhile, Sherlock said it was 'shameful unions have had to go to the Labour Court to try to get respect for those workers who contracted this illness in the workplace'. Carroll MacNeill noted that the findings of the Labour Court 'are still awaited and I respect that'. The Labour Court went on to reject a bid to classify long-Covid as an occupational illness but recommended a six-month extension. Carroll MacNeill said she supports this decision and 'will now move to ensure the scheme is extended as per the Labour Court recommendation'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
RTÉ News
15 hours ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Long Covid scheme extended after court recommendation
The Labour Court has recommended a final extension of the current special scheme for healthcare workers living with long Covid to run up to 31 December 2025, which the Government has now accepted. At that point, anyone remaining on the scheme should transition to the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, the court said. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she fully supports the decision and will now move to ensure the scheme is extended as per the Labour Court recommendation. Earlier in the Dáil, the Minister said the special scheme would finish at the end of June. Minister Carroll MacNeill said that the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform was clear in June 2024 that that was the final extension, with the scheme originally due to end at the end of this month. The Government said 159 Health Service Executive and Section 38 organisation staff are currently on the scheme and in receipt of full pay. The scheme was put in place in 2022. Speaking before the Labour Court made its recommendation, Labour Party spokesperson on health Marie Sherlock said the response from Government so far had been "disrespectful and downright degrading to those who gave so much and risked so much at a time of such uncertainty and risk for this country". Deputy Sherlock said that these patients contracted long Covid in the workplace, and said "the refusal to extend this scheme" had reflected "a shocking lack of empathy and indeed respect for these workers". She said people had described the scheme as "a lifeline". Minister Carroll MacNeill said there was no intention not to be empathetic. Ms Carroll MacNeill said that health workers had gone beyond the call of duty, particularly during the early days of the pandemic, when the protections were not as strong as they came to be and "when the risk was extraordinarily great". She said a temporary scheme was put in place for 12 months in 2022, and believed there were 159 people in receipt of full pay for the past five years, and that this scheme had been updated four times.
