Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 November 2020
542. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the extended maternity leave that was announced in July 2020 will come into effect; if a person who is currently on unpaid maternity leave can have these extra weeks added on to the end of her maternity leave without having to come back to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35218/20]
View answer561. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the detrimental impact that the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns have had on new parents on maternity leave; if he will consider starting the additional three weeks of parental leave at the earlier time of January 2021 in recognition of the negative effects on parents mental, physical and emotional health in addition to the loss of critical socialisation time for their babies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35293/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 561 together.
To support parents of children born during the strict lock-down measures, the Government intends to extend parent's leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 Nov 2019. The Government also intends to extend the period in which parent's leave can be taken up until that child turns two or, in the case of an adoption, two years after the adoption placement date of the child. This extension will apply to parents who may have already availed of their existing entitlements.
Heads of a Bill to effect these changes are currently being drafted in my Department and I hope to bring these to Government shortly.
The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on individual cases. The extension of parent's benefit is a matter for the Minister of Social Protection and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made and that it will be April 2021 before the necessary updates can take place. However, it will be possible for parent's leave to be taken in advance of these changes and the benefit claimed retrospectively, once the legislation has been enacted, and I will ensure that parents are fully informed of their entitlements in this regard.
The extension to parent's leave and benefit follows a number of advancements in family leaves in recent years, including the introduction of parents leave and benefit in 2019 and the extension of unpaid parental leave to 26 weeks in September this year for a child under 12 years.
