Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that my amendment on carers has been ruled out of order but I want to flag this issue. While there is rightly an acknowledgement of women who could not avail of their full maternity leave being facilitated through the extension of parental leave, the small number of carers in receipt of carer's benefit who cannot go back to work because they are providing full-time care for someone who may still be waiting for a vaccination and worried about catching Covid-19 are not in a position to return to work. Flexibility in this area would facilitate a handful of people throughout the country who are availing of carer's benefit.

The bizarre situation is that they will now be forced to go back to work, which puts the disabled person or the older person at an enhanced risk of catching Covid-19 because there are more people coming into their household. It increases the risk of someone being admitted to hospital or to ICU, putting further pressure on our health service. The person who is already in employment, filling that position for the person who is on carer's leave, will not be able to get employment now because of the Covid restrictions and the impact of the pandemic on our economy, and will draw social welfare payments of a minimum of €203 a week. There is a net financial loss to the State of a minimum of €203 a week, an increased risk to an older person or disabled person of contracting Covid-19, putting additional pressure on our overstretched health service, and all for no cost saved. With carer's leave, there is no additional guarantee of a financial payment.

It seems illogical that we are not providing flexibility to this small cohort of people. I have taken this up directly with the Minister on behalf of Family Carers Ireland. He has come back about the broader issue regarding flexibility for carer's leave. I would be grateful if he could put his intentions in that regard on the record. I urge him to speak with his colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, to see if some flexibility could be introduced in light of the additional risk of exposure to Covid-19, the impact on our health service, and it costing the Department of Social Protection at least €203 week for a small handful of people in this country.

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