In 2022 public holiday will be held on the 18th March
A new Bank Holiday and a €1,000 pandemic bonus for healthcare workers has been announced.
The extra public holiday will fall on March 18th this year before moving to the first Monday of February from 2023 to mark St Brigids Day.
While frontline health and ambulance workers who were exposed to Covid-19 will be given a €1,000 tax free bonus.
It won't be restricted to clinical staff and will apply to the likes of porters and attendants in hospitals.
Nursing students, defence forces staff seconded to the HSE and private staff in hospices and nursing homes will also qualify for the payment.
Around 100,000 people will benefit at a cost to the state in the region of €100 million.
Minister for State Martin Heydon made the announcement this morning saying:
"I have campaigned for recognition of Brigid of Kildare for many years along with the Brigidine sisters in Kildare and the many people who are passionate about recognising St. Brigid with a public holiday. I’m delighted as Kildare’s Government Minister to have been able to play my part to see this vision finally become a reality. This decision is also historic as it will mark the first public holiday in honour of an Irish female figure."
The Kildare South TD confirmed St. Brigid's Public holiday will "fall on the closest Monday to 1st February, except when it falls on a Friday when the Public Holiday will be on the Friday."
This year, there will be a once off public holiday on the 18th March.
St. Brigid of Kildare is a patron Saint of Ireland.
Minister Heydon noted “In Kildare, where there is an intrinsic link to St Brigid, work is already underway on plans for Brigid 1500 in 2024. This will mark 1,500 years since Brigid’s death and the addition of a new public holiday to coincide with the date will provide a massive boost for the economy as we plan towards this international celebration."
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