New research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has revealed that only about half of Irish fathers avail of paternity leave, with financial concerns emerging as a major obstacle to higher take-up rates.
The study found a stark contrast in the use of parents’ leave, with just a quarter of fathers taking this entitlement compared to two-thirds of mothers. This disparity occurs despite recent policy introductions aimed at encouraging more equal parenting responsibilities.
“The fact that women do far more care and care work, paid and unpaid, than men plays a significant part in women’s lower economic status in Ireland,” said IHREC Chief Commissioner Liam Herrick. He emphasized that addressing persistent structural inequality between genders requires “a new relationship between paid employment, care work and gender roles.”
The research highlighted that Ireland was comparatively late in introducing paid paternity and parents’ leave by international standards. Moreover, the current two-week paternity benefit falls significantly short of the 26-week maternity benefit, reinforcing traditional gender divisions in household labor.
Financial factors emerged as a key determinant in leave uptake, with higher-paid fathers who receive employer top-ups being more likely to take paternity leave. The availability of workplace replacements in larger companies also positively influenced fathers’ decisions to take leave.
The gender income gap continues to be driven by lower female workforce participation and higher rates of part-time employment among women. This gap typically begins after childbirth and persists throughout women’s working lives.
To improve take-up rates, the report recommends increasing the replacement rate of state-funded benefits to cover a larger proportion of earnings, as the current reliance on employer top-ups creates significant variations in income coverage during leave periods. Additionally, greater awareness of entitlements among fathers and addressing workplace cultures that discourage paternal leave would help boost participation.
ESRI’s Claire Keane, co-author of the report, noted: “This report underscores the importance of child-related leave policies in addressing gender inequalities in the workplace. By implementing the recommended policy changes, Ireland can make significant strides towards achieving greater gender equality and supporting both mothers and fathers in balancing work and family responsibilities.”