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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said that a proposal is being considered to give the partners of healthcare workers paid leave in order to help alleviate childcare needs.
As mass gatherings have closed, creches and other childcare facilities have been unable to look after the children of essential workers, which has been a challenge for them in their effort to help fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking to reporters today, Varadkar said that he “appreciated the difficulties” faced by healthcare workers who are in need of childcare (on PrimeTime last night, he said that he had people in his circle who were in this predicament).
Varadkar said today that the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), was considering a proposal to give paid leave to the partners of healthcare workers – if their partners worked in the public sector, but not in the health sector.
This would “allow them to stay at home and provide childcare,” he said.
“That has been approved by NPHET so we can try and action that now in the next couple of weeks. The difficulty is is that only works if it’s a public sector household, if you like.”
If both parents were healthcare workers, or if the healthcare worker’s partner was employed in the private sector, this measure wouldn’t help them.
So a second prong is being considered: whether child minders can go into people’s homes to look after healthcare workers’ children. Varadkar said that NPHET has reservations about this, but said it was being considered for the measures that could be brought in after 5 May as part of a general easing of restrictions.
“But,” Varadkar added, “they’re not happy for us to do it right now”.
Speaking at the Department of Health briefing tonight, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that they were considering childcare measures for all sectors.
“It’s very conditional on the amount of cases… if we take a particular step, will we increase the amount of contact between people, it has to be in the context of the disease being as low as possible in the community.”
Other issues
Varadkar also said that it had become easier to get those with drug addictions into methadone clinics because of reduced redtape and bureaucracy. He also said that Traveller families, Roma families, drug users and those who are homeless are among the most vulnerable in a healthcare crisis.
Ahead of the European Council summit tomorrow, Varadkar said that there would be discussions about how to use the EU’s “firepower” to help countries most at risk, particularly in the Mediterranean, he said.
- with reporting from Christina Finn
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Paid leave for partners.. The great giveaway continues
@David Glynn: Ah but you see wee Davey there are plenty of words for you and I’m sure people will be more than pleased to help me out with for you!
@Brian: read a bio put up by a nurse a few weeks ago about how she has to change before going into the house when she comes home from work, into a towel her partner leaves out for her. How she has to immediately wash her clothes and shower in a back toilet/shower. How she has to disinfect all the surfaces that she touches. How she has to sit on a chair that no one else is allowed to use. How her children and partner sit on the other side of the room and she can’t touch them. How she has to sleep in a separate bedroom.
I’m ok with her partner getting paid while she works.
@Brian: That is an idiotic and unthinking statement.
@David Glynn: For once you are right David. The word is not unvented.
@Brian: it is not a giveaway, we are facing an unprecedented emergency that we have not faced since the emergency of 1939 -45.
We need unity, healthcare workers are integral to the country overcoming this.
Hopefully, the smaller parties will reject FFG proposals and force a National Goverment until this ‘Emergency Passes’ ,
Even if it’s only for 6 months. We can pick up the bill later, they are estimating €30 billion but it probably will be more,.. But sure we can overcome it but I say no to austerity when that bill arrives.
@ThatLJD: Thought LSD was a drug of the past.
@Paul: What about all the others whose partners work in the private sector or the frontline? Why not reopen crèches and schools for children of frontline staff? Same effect but much better economically.
Who’s first up to whinge about this .The pampered public sector who should take a pay cut brigade.
Excellent , if overdue decision.
Need to do all we can for frontline health workers.
@David Glynn: Was that a whinge David?
@David Glynn: surely if such a measure would be granted however logical, it should be equitable and rolled out to cover private sector spouses also given they are more at risk of losing employment?
@David Glynn: not all front line workers are health workers. People who serve you in shops have kids too !!!
@David Glynn: not just health workers. There are loads of people who are going to be in serious bother when the time comes for them to return to work and nobody to mind kids.
@David Corrigan: For or against. Come back when you have mulles over it.
@Fearghal O’Riain: Government can move quickly with its own employees and only take so much on board.It can manage it. Extending to private sector morally right but how would you manage it?
@David Corrigan: yes, private sector can be thrown to the wolves!
@David Glynn: of course valid but if an intensive care nurse spouse earns more and that’s needed to keep the household going what do you choose stay away from vital work or let your own financial circumstances suffer, no easy answers or fix or implementation but it’s a positive move
@Derek Lyster: of the 22%+ predicted to be on the scratcher when this all ends how many of them will be public sector workers? I think that will be the biggest question come the time.
@David Glynn: What about partners working in the private sector?
@Fearghal O’Riain: the problem is the Government can’t dictate that unfortunately.
@David Glynn: yes so it needs to be done for private sector workers too.
Private sector (partners) getting nailed again.
@Stef: ten private
@Stef: the private sector are still citizen of Ireland. And god forbid they catch this viruse, they may we’ll end up as a patient in the public sector.
@Big Red: the public sector is a sick patient in its own right. Insulated from the harms of the dole queues.
A good decision. However, where both partners are healthcare workers, they are in the same predicament as a couple where one is a healthcare worker and the other a public sector worker. Why the inequality? Incidentally no, it doesn’t affect me but I do wonder. Children of healthcare couples need to be minded too. So, one of them must continue to use annual leave to mind the kids? Hardly seems fair.
@Maria Hickey-Fagan: it’s simple in those situations Maria, the woman stays home, where she belongs!
@ThatLJD:
You’re some tw at.
@ThatLJD: troll
This won’t impact me or my family but its seems ridiculously unfair retail and non health care workers putting their health on the line to deliver vital supplies and keep shops open.
The great giveaway continues
@Brian: Retail and deliveries are not putting their lives on the line, No worker is at risk except healthcare or ambulance, these are the only ones who have to be close to people in order to carry out their jobs, from what I see retail are better protected than hospital staff, in fact its over the top, gloves masks spraying every thing, even perspex, shouing at people to stand behind the line,
Hospital /nursing home/ care centres cant even get PPE, and they are carrying out care procedures. Health care staff are already dying because they have got COVID from their patients, that’s the only great giveaway that’s going on,
Absolute disgraceful! What about private sector workers. They are most at risk at loosing their jobs so something needs to be put in place right now for them. The government have ignored this issue for far too long now!
@Paddy Lambe: Thought they had introduced a €350 a week payment people are entitled to claim. The government can only decide for their employees. Private businesses could give the partners of healthcare workers paid leave too. I think what’s disgraceful is this plan took so long to put in place!
@NotMyIreland: the public sector workers were entitled to approach their employer and take the €350 per week based on the need to look after children that was always open to them so this is an additional perk. The government need to realise that the private sector raise the revenue that keeps the country going and they need protection too. This is a new double standard to go along with the many double standards that already exist. You can be sure that the healthcare workers in families where a private sector worker also works will need to take the time off because they can’t be sacked, the private sector worker can and the household need the income.
@Paddy Lambe: People in the State sector pay taxes too.
@David Glynn: I did not say they didn’t pay taxes. What’s your point?
@Paddy Lambe:Healthcare workers cannot apply for the 350euro, they have to take holidays or unpaid leave for childcare issues, this is why this has been brought in, even though its completely useless, healthcare staff are needed back on the front line, urgently to care for the sick, and where do you get the idea that healthcare or any public sector workers cant be sacked, utter nonsense, There is only ONE front line that is healthcare, they are the only ones that can look after the sick, now more that ever we need them, they have no perks, they have disgracefull pay and working conditions and they are still out there fighting to save us when we get sick,
As a public service worker who’s wife is a front line medical worker we are extremely fortunate to have this measure, but we are the minority. However we can’t help but ask whether it is fair or well thought out at all. What about Frontline with private sector partners, single parents, both parents working on Frontline. This is not equitable
@Seagoat returns: The government/tax payer doesn’t employ the private sector worker which is why they put in place the Pandemic unemployment payment and the wage subsidy scheme to support both private sector employers and employees. That’s my understanding of this.
@Noel_Random: Noel. The pandemic payment was in place and available to public sector workers before this for childcare so your comment doesn’t make sense. €350 a week is not a full wage for most private sector workers so this is inequitable. Private sector workers also provide this economy with revenue and are actually at a massively high risk of unemployment if they opt for the pandemic payment where the public sector workers aren’t so why protect the less vulnerable workers over the vulnerable ones? This is just another double standard implemented by FG aimed at the private sector. Where do you think all of the money comes from in the economy to pay for these things, Ill give you a hint, it’s not the public sector.
@Paddy Lambe: public service employees are not entitled to any Covid payments previously set out including the €350 childcare payment
@Eimear Shields: where is that written. Down. All it says is employer. This would include all employees. In any event there is no recourse (i.e. people can’t get made redundant) in the public sector.
Minister for Health Harris said today “Covid 19 is called that because there were 18 previous covid viruses”
Now I stand to be corrected but I don’t remember paid leave given to spouses in the previous 18 outbreaks
@Alan Farrell: because the previous 18 weren’t as debilitating or fatal. Not all coronavirus are the same, just the same way not all cold or flu viruses produce the same level of illness
@Alan Farrell: I stand to be corrected but a doctor was on the radio last week and said the reference to 19 was the year it was discovered.
@Alan Farrell: …er…but you don’t even recall ANY of the previous Covid numbers 1-18 outbreaks…nor do the general global population. No why was that I wonder….?
@Fr. Fintan Stack: Ah yes…I recall now…it’s named after the year that it raised it’s ugly head!
@Alan Farrell: oh dear god
@Fr. Fintan Stack: i think it’s co = corona vi = virus d = disease 19 = year it was discovered.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: yes I believe it was because of the year also
@Fr. Fintan Stack: No, it’s the 19th strain of the virus, just coincidentally in 2019
@Alan Farrell: the 19 refers to the year. One would assume that a Health Minister should know that but we should probably have learned to expect sub standard service from our politicians at this stage.
@Alan Farrell: There were 2018 previous outbreaks, spouses have been able to available of paid leave for COVID outbreaks since the birth of Christ, apart from a break for the plague in the 1400′s.
What about single parents?
They are unhappy about childminders? Every manufacturing plant, warehouse, suppliers, shops ect are all working as normal. Both my self and my husband are still working, neither in healthcare. Who do they think is minding everybody’s children?
@niamh ryan: interesting Niamh. If you’re both working, who is looking after the kids?
@niamh ryan: who is minding your kids?
@theonlypaulg: Noel And Niamh. Is it not obvious, a child minder is. And I have someone coming in to mind our child. The task force don’t have a clue what is going on in the real world. Do they think a 3 year old minds themselves?
How come couples who both work in retail stores can’t avail of this as always low paid shafted again
What about blue light workers outside of the HSE? Fire Service, An Garda Siochana, IRCG – they have no option but to turn up for work every day to ensure their respective essential service continues to be available…sometimes in equally hazardous environments.
@Kevin McGarvey: at least they have a job to turn up to.
He was Frances Fitzgerald’s apprentice she taught him everything she knew
Why not offer partners of healthcare workers €350 to stay at home and you can’t tell me all healthcare workers are front line workers…..
@Sean Higgins: they were entitled to the payment like Anyone else
@Sean Higgins: your point is? I’m a healthcare worker. Not frontline, but my department is responsible for the provision and delivery of vital supplies to COVID wards. If my dept goes down, that stops. Fact is, every healthcare worker is playing a vital role here.
If you left work to care for a child because of school or childcare closures and your employer is no longer paying you, in some circumstances, you may qualify for the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Contact the DEASP using MyWelfare or call 1890 800 024 to find out if you can qualify.
Citizens Advice
@Tracey Montgomery: This is not like for like. The public sector was entitled to this but now entitled to full pay. Private sector shafted again
Public sector! Good pensions,job security,sick leave etc.not equitable.v disappointed
@Ted Odriscoll: public sector = nurses doctors firemen scientists care home workers. Get a grip
The amount of people who no matter what anyone does in this country come out with but what about x y z is just pathetic
We make employers pay for essential civic requirements, such as jury duty. A nurse going to work these days is no different. Great initiative from the government and one that hopefully gets through.
@Big Red: should all essential workers not have this then? Food producers, retail, pharmacy, blue light. Poorly thought out and knee jerk it seems.
What about when both people in household are healthcare workers? This is not going to work for a lot of people. Six weeks since schools closed and zero support. It’s a nightmare
Bit late now, Leo.
Crèches and primary schools need to reopen for HCW to work research shows children are not affected as much and the hospitals need the workers to tend to the patients
have your say