As the Deputy is aware, the Maternity Protection Acts provide for up to 26 weeks paid Maternity Leave, and a further 16 weeks unpaid leave. Where a child is born prematurely, additional weeks may be available.
In addition, the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' Leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Payment of Parents’ Benefit is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made. As a result, the estimated timescale for the necessary updates being put in place is April 2021.
Legislation is currently being developed to provide for the additional views of Parents' Leave. I am examining whether it may be possible for Parents' Leave to be taken in advance of these changes and the benefit claimed retrospectively once the legislation has been enacted. I will take advice from Parliamentary Counsel to ensure that it is possible to draft the legislation in this way. I will ensure that parents are fully informed of their entitlements in this regard as soon as possible.
The extension to Parents' Leave and Benefit follows a number of advancements in family leaves in recent years, including the extension of unpaid Parental Leave to 26 weeks for a child under 12 years.
