The support scheme is due to end on December 31Pádraig Rice TD

The Government’s decision not to extend a financial support scheme for healthcare workers suffering from long covid has been labelled “extremely disappointing” and “cold-hearted”.

Cork TD Pádraig Rice wrote to Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to request a six month extension on the scheme while the issue of occupational injury was examined.

The Minister responded to the Social Democrats politician by saying the scheme has already been extended a number of times and those unfit to work will be able to receive three month’s sick pay under the Public Service Sick Leave scheme.

Minister Carroll MacNeill wrote: “All illnesses are treated equally under the Public Service Sick Leave Regulation. This equity is a core principle, ensuring no condition is prioritised over another.

“It is not clear any country provided sustained full pay for Long-COVID comparable to Ireland’s special scheme.”

Deputy Rice claimed the decision means “workers will now face a financial cliff edge with real consequences for them and their families.”

“All these workers have gotten is a cold-hearted response from Government on Christmas week.”

In another controversial political move, a bill to ban fox hunting was overwhelmingly defeated in the Dáil this month – with the vast majority of TDs from Ireland’s three biggest parties voting against it.

CorkBeo contacted the offices of the 14 Cork TDs who voted the bill down the day after the vote took place and only one replied.