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Parental Leave

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Questions (587)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

587. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 166 of 23 September 2020, when the additional three-week parental leave will be enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28140/20]

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Written answers

The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life.

The Government is currently considering a proposal to advance the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to five weeks for all parents of children born after 1 November 2019, to enable every eligible parent to spend additional time with their child.

The Government proposal would mean that eligible parents of children born during the pandemic crisis would get an extra three weeks of Parent’s Leave to offset the impact of having a child during the strict lockdown measures. The period in which Parent’s Leave can be taken would also be extended from one year to two years.

This will be a matter for Minister O'Gorman to progress following the transfer of this function to his Department in the coming weeks.

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