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 Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2021 that he would extend parent’s leave by a further three weeks for all children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019, and extend the period in which this leave can be taken to two years. This means that each parent will be able to avail of five weeks of parent’s leave for a child born on or after 1 November 2019.
Legislation will be required to progress this commitment and work is now underway in my Department in this regard. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that parent's benefit will be payable from 1 April 2021. Parents will be able to take parent's leave once the legislation is in place and to apply for the parent's benefit retrospectively.
