Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 May 2023
231. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform if he can clarify in relation to a public sector worker (details supplied) who has suffered a critical illness and having returned to work, is diagnosed with a second, separate critical illness within months. [25609/23]
View answerAs Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have responsibility for the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme.
This Scheme ordinarily provides for the payment of the following to public servants during periods of absence from work due to illness or injury:
• A maximum of 92 days on full pay in a rolling one-year period
• Followed by a maximum of 91 days on half pay in a rolling one-year period
This is subject to an overriding threshold of 183 days’ paid sick leave in a rolling four-year period.
Some individuals may become incapacitated as a result of critical illness or serious physical injury. If they have supporting medical evidence for an extended period of sick leave, they may, on an exceptional basis, be granted extended paid sick leave as follows under the Critical Illness Protocol (CIP):
• A maximum of 183 days on full pay in a rolling one-year period
• Followed by a maximum of 182 days on half pay in a rolling one-year period
This is subject to an overriding threshold of 365 days’ paid sick leave in a rolling four-year period
CIP does not distinguish between critical conditions. Access is based on the established criteria as per Part 4 of S.I. 124/2014 (Public Service Management [Sick Leave] Regulations 2014) and as laid out in relevant circulars.
An individual may apply more than once to access CIP, however they are subject to the thresholds as laid out above. As the granting of access to CIP is a management decision, medical advice must be sought from the Chief Medical Officer or Occupational Health Physician to aid the decision-making process.
