A new scheme to re-introduce long covid payments for healthcare workers should also apply to members of An Garda Síochána.
That's according to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
Up until yesterday, all public sector workers suffering from long covid were entitled to Special Leave with Pay.
General Secretary of the AGSI Antoinette Cunningham believes any plans to reinstate the payment should extend to Gardai:
"We've heard today that there have been proposals made to healthcare workers around the extension of Special Leave with Pay arrangements. And certainly we believe our colleagues in the HSE are very deserving of any special arrangements that might be put in place. But equally so are the members that we represent-sergeants and inspectors".
She adds:
"As regards to the continuation of SLWP for long covid, we ask that it be extended to our members also".
“Our members responded proactively to all duties asked of them during the COVID-19 crisis and it is unfair that Sergeants and Inspectors will now be financially impacted through no fault of their own and because of this decision.
— AGSI (@AGSI_Ireland) July 2, 2022
Details of the revised scheme were announced this afternoon, and confirmed that it is still unique to healthcare workers.
The payment has been deemed 'a temporary measure' and will not be extended beyond June 30th 2023.
