Gary Gannon
Question:376. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of one-parent families that availed of parent's benefit and leave in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19426/23]
View answerTuesday, 25 April 2023
Questions (376)
Written answers
Parent’s Benefit is a scheme payable to parents who take parent’s leave from work. It is available in respect of any child born or placed with their adoptive parents from 1 November 2019. Parent’s Benefit provides seven weeks payment to each parent of a child aged under two years, or in the two years following an adoption, who is on Parent’s Leave from work to care for their child. Parents can take 7 weeks together or take separate weeks of leave.
At the end of 2022, there were 4,112 people in receipt of Parent's Benefit. Data on whether these individuals were from a one-parent family is not readily available in my Department.