Public healthcare workers, who served onsite in a clinical Covid-19 exposed environment during the course of the pandemic, are to receive a once off €1,000 tax free payment under a plan passed by Cabinet this morning.
Healthcare workers in nursing homes and hospices will also be included. It is understood that an additional public holiday and national commemorative event, in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, will take place on 18 March this year.
In addition, there will be a new annual public holiday at the start of February, from 2023 to mark St Brigid's Day. Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly are expected to detail the plan once Cabinet has concluded.
The aim of the package of measures is to recognise the both efforts of the general public and Ireland’s frontline workers. Last September, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told the Dáil it was his "strong view" that bonus payments, or extra leave, should not be limited to frontline workers in the health service.