Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are plans to bring forward the increase in parental benefit from April 2021 to 2020, in view of the difficulty in obtaining suitable childcare options due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31578/20]
View answer425. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans to extend the timeframe beyond the first year of a child’s birth or adoption during which parent’s benefit is paid in order to take into account the parents whose child was born during the pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31605/20]
View answer426. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Social Protection if clarity will be provided regarding the parental leave extension announced in budget 2021; if there are provisions that would allow parents to take the extra leave in advance of the proposed timeframe of April 2021; and if the rationale for the timeline can be outlined. [31623/20]
View answer431. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Social Protection if the increase in the parent's benefit from two weeks to five weeks as announced in budget 2021 and planned for 2021 could take effect in 2020 due to the extreme difficulty and uncertainty facing families with Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31718/20]
View answer434. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will consider bringing in the extended parental leave from November 2020 instead of postponing it until April 2021 when babies born during Covid-19 will not become beneficiaries. [31725/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 424 to 426, inclusive, 431 and 434 together.
Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021. This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019. The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second birthday or within two years following adoption. Parents will therefore not lose out on their entitlement to these extra weeks.
There is a necessary lead-in time following the announcement of this extension to facilitate its implementation. Firstly, legislative change is required by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth which has responsibility for parents leave policy. This legislation needs to be carefully prepared and drafted before being brought through the Oireachtas, given that it extends a statutory leave entitlement that, in addition to benefitting workers, has implications for employers.
It will also be necessary for parallel amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) to be drafted and brought through the Oireachtas to provide the legislative basis for the extended payment of benefit.
In addition, significant changes are required to the Department's systems to administer this extension, including the provision of retrospective entitlement. This work needs to be undertaken in such as way that is does not compromise existing supports in an environment where there are unprecedented levels of demand on the Department’s services due to Covid-19.
The extra weeks of leave will be made available as soon as the necessary legislation which is being drafted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is enacted.
Once the new application and payment system goes live in April, my Department will then process and issue benefit payments - to include backdated payment of benefit as appropriate - in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment.
While I appreciate that the timing of the implementation of this measure is a concern for some parents. I can assure the Deputies that everything is being done to make this extension available as soon as possible.
