Carer’s Leave Act, 2001
The Carer’s Leave Act, 2001 came into effect on 2 July, 2001.
The Act provides for unpaid leave, which can be taken by employees to provide care to a person suffering from a condition requiring full time care and attention.
In order to qualify for the leave, an employee must have at least twelve months’ continuous service with the employer. The total duration for which an employee can take carer’s leave is 65 weeks. Shorter periods amounting in aggregate to 65 weeks can also be taken. The employer can object to an employee taking a period of carer’s leave of less than 13 weeks. Once the employee has returned to work, he or she must remain there 6 weeks before taking another period of carer’s leave.
The person to be cared for is assessed by a deciding officer under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act, 1993 as “needing full time care and attention”.
There is also a system in place for an insurance-based carer’s allowance which was introduced in October, 2000.
David Phelan
November 2001