Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020
39. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Social Protection the supports in place for parents if their children are sent home from school due of Covid-19 and who have to miss work to care for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25080/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to keeping schools open.
In instances where this is not possible, the Government has requested employers to be as flexible as possible in allowing staff time off to look after their children or other members of their families affected by Covid-19. Employers have a general duty of care towards their workers and that care is often expressed in the form of negotiation, compromise and flexibility with a view to maintaining good employment relationships over the long term.
Any employees affected by the lack of childcare are strongly encouraged to engage with their employer in the first instance with a view to exploring all options available to enable them to return to, or continue with, work where possible.
Some of the flexible options include offering paid compassionate leave, allowing employees to work from home, altering shifts so that employees can coordinate caring between themselves and partners or another person, allowing employees to rearrange holidays and allowing employees to take paid time off that can be worked back at a later time.
Where it is not possible to make appropriate compassionate leave arrangements, employees may be able to call on some statutory entitlements including force majeure leave, parental leave together with parental benefit, or carers leave together with carers benefit or carers allowance.
Where a person in these circumstances is not able to avail of another leave or benefit, is not being paid by their employer and they are experiencing financial hardship the most appropriate short term support available to them is that under the means tested Supplementary Welfare Allowance.
I trust this clarifies the position.
