The Irish Government is having second thoughts over the rewards it intended to give public sector workers for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, fearing it has been too generous and the sums involved might bust the Budget.
New estimates reveal the cost of the extra pay or leave could run to several hundred million euro.
A Labour Court recommendation said the Health Service Executive had estimated that a claim for 10 days’ additional leave by unions for healthcare workers could cost at least €377 million ($A605 million).
There are concerns among Government officials that other groups of State employees including some Public Servants and Gardaí (police) may also look for similar benefits.
Workers at the State-owned Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann networks have also sought 10 additional days leave for keeping buses and trains operating during the pandemic.
The broader Public Service trade union movement has not lodged any claims.
In their submission to the Labour Court, the health unions said workers’ expectations had been raised by comments by Ministers.
The submission included a quote from Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Micheál Martin who said the Government would give active consideration to compensation claims.
It also pointed to a comment by Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly (pictured) who said: “I want to see something done. Yeah, absolutely, I really do.”
On Tuesday, Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar told the Dáil (Parliament) it was his strong view that bonus payments or extra leave should not be limited to front-line workers in the health service.
“I have seen the enormous work done by Civil Servants in the Department of Social Protection making sure people got their pandemic unemployment payment quickly,” Mr Varadkar said.
“I know of the work staff in Revenue did, making sure businesses got their employment wage subsidy scheme payments and staff in my Department did, making sure businesses got the assistance they needed,” he said.
Dublin, 25 September 2021
