In a concerning development, more than 50 nurses in Ireland are still awaiting the COVID period bonus promised by the government, despite the country’s return to relative normalcy after the pandemic.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has revealed that 15 community intervention nurses from SouthDoc in Cork and an additional 38 from CareDoc in Wexford, Waterford, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Carlow, and Tipperary are among those who have not yet received the bonus, which was announced by the Irish government nearly 20 months ago.
This bonus, amounting to €1,000, was intended to recognize and support the dedication and sacrifice of nurses battling COVID-19 on the front lines. However, the INMO reports that not all eligible nurses have received it, and there is no clear timeline for its disbursement.
Liam Conway, an Industrial Relations Officer with the INMO, highlighted that these nurses put their lives at risk during a time when understanding of Covid was limited, making the delay in bonus payments demoralizing. Interestingly, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has no involvement in this issue, as all nurses in public and private hospitals have already received their Covid-19 bonuses, leaving community service nurses still awaiting their well-deserved recognition.
The delay in disbursing these bonuses underscores the need for timely acknowledgment of the tireless efforts of healthcare professionals who have played a crucial role in the country’s response to the pandemic. The INMO continues to advocate for the swift resolution of this issue to ensure that all deserving nurses receive their promised bonuses without further delay.