Longford frontline staff frustrated by non-payment of €1,000 pandemic bonus

The failure of the government to honour a commitment made to all essential frontline health workers, including staff at Longford’s St Christopher’s Service, in respect of the pandemic recognition payment was raised in the Seanad last week. 

Highlighting the issue, Senator Micheál Carrigy said he was speaking on behalf of the staff at St Christopher's Services, which is a section 39 organisation with over 200 staff members providing daytime, residential and respite care for many adults and young children.

He remarked, “We have to put on record our thanks to all the staff for the work they did during Covid-19. That was recognised by the government with the announcement of the pandemic recognition payment, that is, the €1,000 grant for those who worked throughout that time. However, like other areas within the health service and similar to other organisations, a substantial number of staff still have not received that payment two years on from the initial announcement.” 

Senator Carrigy said ‘frustration is growing among the staff regarding’ the non-payment of the €1,000. “They want to get clarity as to what the situation is and when they will receive their payments.”

Responding to the Longford Fine Gael Senator, Minister of State at the Department of Health and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (Disability), Deputy Anne Rabbitte, said she knew St Christopher's Services quite well, having visited a number of times and she acknowledged the phenomenal work of the staff.

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Admitting that the process is going far too slow for staff who are section 39 workers, Minister Rabbitte said her ‘understanding’ is that the €1,000 bonus payment was paid firstly to the HSE staff. It was then paid secondly to the section 38 staff. “They are currently working their way through the section 39 organisations. There are 850 of those section 39 organisations, of which 689 have compiled a report back in. There are 66,000 staff right across it and they are currently working their way through it.”

Minister Rabbitte concluded, “I think it is unfortunate that the likes of St Christopher's and other organisations actually have to demonstrate how the person calculated their days if they were not solely assigned to that residential facility.”