News that Community Health Care Workers will receive Pandemic Bonus 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.