Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
789. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration has been given to the possibility of extending carer’s leave for employees across all sectors; if he has investigated such a measure to the point by which costings have been calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43188/21]
View answerSection 6 of the Carer's Leave Act 2001 provides that employees with at least one year's continuous service are entitled to take 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.
The 2001 Act provides, as part of its definition of employee, 'a person of any age, who has entered into or works under (or, where the employment has ceased, entered into or worked under) a contract of employment'. The application of the Act is not limited by economic sector.
Carer's Leave is unpaid but an employee may also qualify for Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance, the payment of which is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection.
