Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 June 2022
399. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of providing a payment equivalent to illness benefit for the five days medical care leave as proposed in the work life balance and miscellaneous provisions Bill 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31406/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2022 is a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Youth. It provides for unpaid leave in respect of medical care for sick children. There is no provision in the Bill for Illness Benefit or any other income support to be payable, and there have been no proposals for such an approach.
My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. Entitlement to these supports is contingent on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work.
Illness Benefit is the primary income support provided by this Department to those who are unable to work due to illness of any type and who are covered by PRSI contributions. The maximum rate of Illness Benefit is €208, with increases for qualified adult and children where appropriate. Claimants must have a minimum of 104 social insurance contributions and must meet other conditions in relation to when these were paid and whether they are paid or credited contributions. In addition, a medical practitioner must provide a Certificate of Incapacity for Work in respect of their patient.
It is not possible to provide a costing as requested as this would involve a fundamental change to Illness Benefit which would have wider policy and budgetary implications that have not been considered.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
