Paying Community Health Care Workers pandemic bonus is the 'right decision’ - Lowry

Deputy Michael Lowry says that the announcement by Government to include Community Health Care Workers in the Pandemic Bonus Payment of €1000 is the right decision.

Minister for Public Expenditure, Michael McGrath, has told the Dáil that Home Help Workers, employed directly by the HSE or by a private provider doing work on behalf of the HSE, will be now be included in the recognition payment.

When it was learned earlier this month that Community Home Care Workers had been excluded, Deputy Lowry spoke immediately to relevant Government Ministers and personally told them that excluding these worker was not acceptable.

Within an hour of learning that they had been excluded from receiving the payment, a large number of angry, disappointed and confused Home Care Workers contacted Deputy Lowry and his office to appeal for his help.

Deputy Lowry, who was in Leinster House at the time, spoke with An Tanaiste, the Minister for Health and the Minister for Public Expenditure to relay the feelings of Home Care staff, telling them that these workers felt both under-valued and insulted that they have been excluded from receiving financial recognition for their contribution.

‘Home Care workers played an invaluable role in caring for people in their homes during the Pandemic. Their work means that many people in various circumstances got to remain in their own homes. Throughout the Pandemic this was never more vital as it meant older and vulnerable did not have to move to Nursing Home during the period when Covid was rife in many Homes. This contribution to Covid Care could not be overlooked when the day came to acknowledge those who has played a pivotal role in health care’ says Deputy Lowry.

The bonus is expected to appear in the regular payroll payments of those workers by March.