Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 May 2019
43. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons that availed of paternity benefit both nationally and in County Limerick since its introduction in September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23044/19]
View answerThe following tabular statement presents the average number of Paternity Benefit recipients, nationwide and for County Limerick, in each of the periods 2016 (October - December), 2017, 2018, and 2019 (January - April).
I note that the share of Paternity Benefit recipients in County Limerick - about 4% of the national total - is what would be expected given that County Limerick accounts for just over 4% of Ireland's population.
As Paternity Benefit is payable for two weeks only, the nationwide total of Paternity Benefit claims awarded in a given year is also provided in order to give a fuller picture of the number of fathers availing of the scheme.
Paternity Benefit
|
Year |
Average Recipients (State) |
Average Recipients (Limerick) |
Total Claims Awarded (State) |
|
2016 (Oct-Dec) |
296 |
10 |
5,013 |
|
2017 |
529 |
21 |
26,559 |
|
2018 |
645 |
20 |
24,080 |
|
2019 (Jan-Apr) |
646 |
26 |
6,954 |
