The three weeks’ Parent’s Leave and Benefit, promised almost four months ago by the Government, must be introduced now, especially with crèches closed or taking reduced numbers due to the pandemic.
This is the view of Sinn Féin Galway West TD, Mairead Farrell, who said the impact of the Covid-19 restrictions has impacted not only on crèches, but on family members being unable to provide childcare due to restrictions on households mixing.
.
“Parents of babies born during the pandemic have been under huge pressure as they have struggled to find suitable childcare once their parental leave ends," she said. “Many parents have been forced to take unpaid leave to look after their babies."
'Families can’t keep waiting'
In Budget 2021, the Government pledged to give families three weeks of paid parental leave to address the kind of situations Dep Farrell outlined, but "almost four months later" the money is still "nowhere to be seen".
She said this was "unacceptable", especially as this was money that parents are "entitled to and which will make a real difference". She called on the Government to "act now" and bring in the measures. “Families can’t keep waiting," she said. "This isn’t good enough."
