Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
600. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the provisions available for parents in cases in which their leave has ended and childcare is not available to them due to the age of their baby and in view of the fact that many crèches are not taking infants under one year old due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18354/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has requested employers to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children or other family members. This may include offering paid compassionate leave, remote working from home, altering shift patterns around their partners work, bringing forward annual leave entitlements, etc.
Where it is not possible to make appropriate compassionate leave arrangements, employees may be able avail of statutory entitlements including force majeure leave, Parent’s Leave together with Parent’s Benefit (for each parent where a baby was born after 1st November 2019) or unpaid Parental Leave.
Where a person in these circumstances is not able to avail of another leave/benefit type and finds themselves in financial hardship, they may apply for the COVID 19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
I trust that this clarifies the position at this time.
