Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2026
24. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection to provide an update on his engagement with the Minister for Health on the condition known as long-Covid, and its classification as an occupational illness for healthcare workers. [31239/26]
View answerIn 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 shows that community transmission was the primary means of transmission.
However, my Department's range of income supports, including Illness Benefit and Invalidity Pension - which are not dependent on the definition of a condition as being an occupational illness, and which are payable 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. Accordingly there is little, if any, benefit to the people concerned from having long-COVID defined as an occupational illness in social welfare legislation.
It is also important to note we do not assess a person's entitlement, or differentiate between claimants, based on the type of illness or disability with which they present. Instead entitlement is based on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts their capacity to work. This approach which is used with other chronic or extended duration illnesses, also applies in respect of claims relating to long COVID.
With specific reference to workers in the health services, the Department's 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.
As previously indicated, I recently met with the Minister for Health to outline the position above, and our respective departments will continue to engage on this matter.
I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
