From today, parents can avail of seven weeks paid Parents Leave and Benefit, as part of steps introduced by Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman.
The measures will see the number of weeks that parents can take time off work, with financial support from the State, increase from five weeks to seven weeks.
The support applies to both parents and is part of the Government’s ambition to ensure that parents can enjoy meaningful quality time with their new-born in the knowledge they will be financially supported.
Parent’s Leave and Benefit is available to anyone with a child under two years of age or who has adopted a child within the last two years.
The take-up of Parent’s Leave and Benefit has increased three-fold since 2020.
In 2021, a total of 51,400 parents were supported – compared to just 16,700 in 2020.
Since the start of 2022, the total number of applications awarded reached over 28,000.
Speaking today, Minister Humphreys and Minister O’Gorman stated that they are committed to a further expansion of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to nine weeks in line with the Work-Life Balance Directive.
Minister Humphreys commented,“I’m delighted that from today, tens of thousands of families across the country will benefit from seven weeks of paid parent’s leave and benefit.
“This is a support that we have increased over several Budgets and the significant rise in take-up demonstrates just how popular it is with parents.
“I believe strongly that the first few weeks and months spent with a newborn son or daughter is so important.
“Today’s measure will see the number of weeks of paid leave each parent can take increase from five to seven.
Minister O’Gorman commented, “Welcoming a child into the world is one of the most important moments in a parent’s life. We want to ensure that new parents are supported to spend quality time with their babies in those first weeks and months, and be there to share special bonding moments.”
Parents have a right to time off work to look after their children. Parents have several different types of statutory leave entitlements, parent’s leave parental leave, and paternity leave,
Parent’s leave
Parent’s leave is a statutory entitlement for parents in employment or self-employment. It aims to let working parents spend more time with their baby or adopted child during the first two years. Each parent is entitled to 7 weeks leave for:
- A child born or adopted on or after 1 July 2022
- A child who is under 2 on 1 July 2022
- An adopted child who has been placed with the family for less than 2 years on 1 July 2022
Parental leave
From 1 September 2020, each parent is entitled to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave. You must take parental leave before the child is 12 years of age, or 16 years of age if the child has a disability. In general, you must have been working for your employer for at least 12 months to be entitled to parental leave. There is no social welfare payment available.
Paternity leave
New parents are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave from employment or self-employment following the birth or adoption of a child. Employers do not have to pay you while you are on paternity leave. You may be eligible for Paternity Benefit.