Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2024
450. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered extending unpaid leave to carers to take time off to undertake care needs, or to support employers in offering flexibility around such arrangements. [20430/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current entitlements to carer's leave provide that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to between 13 and up to 104 weeks of carer's leave to enable them to provide full-time care and attention to a person who is in need of such care. An employee on carer’s leave may qualify for a social welfare benefit (Carer’s Benefit, or Carer’s Allowance).
Carer's Benefit is available to people who leave the workforce or reduce their working hours to care for a child or an adult in need of full-time care and attention. It is payable for a period of 2 years (104 weeks) for each care recipient and may be claimed over separate periods up to a total of 2 years (104 weeks). Where a carer cannot satisfy the PRSI conditions attached to the Carer's Benefit payment, application for the non-means tested payment of Carer's Allowance is available.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. The Act also included provisions to transpose Article 9 of the EU Work Life Balance Directive and provide for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers.
The right to request flexible working for parents and carers and remote working for all employees was commenced on 6 March 2024 following the preparation of a Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission under Part 4. The Code includes guidance for employers and employees on their obligations regarding compliance.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Mindful of the recent significant increase in family leave entitlements through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, the Government has no plans to amend such leave at this point to enable carers to take unpaid leave.
