Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Parental leave is the responsibility of the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and his Department and my Department makes the necessary payments. To be helpful to parents, where they could not go to work due to childcare commitments, the Deputy is correct that in the first instance we encouraged them to engage with their employer. Some employers have been very good, and we must acknowledge that. They have allowed parents to work flexible hours and they have been able to balance looking after families, home schooling and also doing their work. It is not easy, but they have been able to do that. For those people who could not avail of those arrangements with their employer, we said they could self-certify and apply for the pandemic unemployment payment. I would encourage parents who are in that situation to avail of the support that is available currently.

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