AQW 18031/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 12/11/2024
Answered On Date: 14/11/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy, pursuant to his Good Jobs Employment Rights Bill, to detail the support that can be provided to parents with multiples.

Answer:

The Good Jobs consultation closed to responses on 30 September 2024. Consultation responses are currently being finalised. Policy decisions will be taken in due course.

The range of employment law measures to support working families, both existing and proposed, is available to parents of children from multiple births on the same basis as all parents. In relation to my proposals for neonatal leave and pay, I am aware that multiple children are more likely to require neonatal care. The right to request flexible working enables the making of a wide variety of types of requests reflecting specific individual and family circumstances.

Maternity pay policy and support from benefits are matters for the Department for Communities.