Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is related to the amendments. The Bill must be met with improvements in the provision of accessible and affordable childcare under the care services. In this context, the least we can do is ensure people have the right to flexible working arrangements as an acknowledgement of the poor provision of childcare and social and healthcare. One area of concern in the Bill was covered by amendment Nos. 20, 22 and 23 relating to a parent's request for flexible working arrangements. The Government has proposed that flexible working arrangements to care for one's child can only be made up to the age of 12 years, or 16 years in the case of a child with a disability or a long-term illness. They are arbitrary dates. I asked the Minister about this on Committee Stage and there was no justification. Parents need care for their adolescent children so I do not know why the Bill would exclude a parent or guardian requesting flexible working arrangements to care for a 13- or 14 year-old-child.

Documentation from Tusla states that in Ireland children under 14 years of age are not seen to be mature enough to be left alone or unsupervised. The Bill just does not line up with that. The limit of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability or long-term illness is not just arbitrary, for some people it feels insulting. As the Minister responsible for disabilities, I hope Deputy O'Gorman will examine the complexity and care required by many children with disabilities and understand it does not stop at age 16. No satisfactory explanation has been offered for these limits. They are another section of the Bill divorced from the reality of family life. While I welcome the Bill and its overall impact, there are provisions in it that should have been addressed. With reference to the review, it is at best a year away and it disregards the genuine concerns raised by representative bodies and support organisations.

Crucially, the other key point is the provision of public service. Properly resourcing staff in the social and healthcare system would make a massive difference and would alleviate some of the need for these types of leave. The Government must provide a statutory right to home assistance and staff and funding for children's disability network teams to support family carers and provide affordable childcare. They are ultimately the measures which will make a substantial difference in this area.

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