Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2015
312. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will extend the upper age limit for children, generally set at eight years of age, for which parental leave may be taken, given its particular helpfulness to parents during school holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45836/15]
View answerThe basis for the current age limit is contained in Council Directive 2010/18/EU giving effect to the revised Parental Leave Framework Agreement negotiated by the European social partners in 2009. The essential point is that the upper age limit was negotiated and agreed by employers and Trade Union representatives at EU level and their agreement was then given force of law by the Directive. There are no plans at present to extend this limit. However, I would refer the Deputy to the announcement in the recent Budget of a new entitlement to two weeks paternity leave from work for fathers together with a social welfare payment to take effect from September 2016.
