Seán Sherlock
Question:1077. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied). [14485/21]
View answerWednesday, 24 March 2021
Questions (1077)
Written answers
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.
In December 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Parents' Leave Bill to provide an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave to each parent, and to extend the period in which the leave can be taken to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
The Government published the Family Leave Bill 2021 on 9 March 2021 which provides for these amendments and the Bill passed Committee and Report Stages in the Seanad on 22 March 2021. The Bill is being considered by the Dáil today. The aim is that this legislation will be enacted by the beginning of April 2021 and that parents will be able to apply for Parents' Leave immediately thereafter.