Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2022
139. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider amending the policy regarding parent’s leave and benefit to allow lone parents to take the full time available under the scheme, equal to the time two parent families can avail of to ensure fairness and equality for the child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5407/22]
View answerUnder the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to further increase this entitlement from five weeks to seven weeks for eligible parents from July 2022. Parent’s leave was introduced with a view to the transposition of EU Directive 2019/1158, which provides that Member States must provide for a minimum period of two months' parental leave for each parent which cannot be transferred. The intention behind the principle of non-transferable leave in the Directive is to encourage fathers to make use of their right to such leave. It also facilitates the reintegration of mothers in the labour market after they have taken maternity and parental leave. This is further supported through the provision of Parents’ Benefit.It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family. The Act was drafted in such a way as to take account of the broad complexion of family life and allows for an entitlement for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the parent. In effect this means that more than two individuals could have an entitlement to the leave.There are currently no plans to amend the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 to provide for an additional entitlement for lone parents as it would impact on the intention of this leave. However, I am cognizant of the difficulties faced by lone parents and will examine where additional supports could be provided to them.
