Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
1058. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated full year cost of extending parental leave and benefit by 19 weeks for mothers and 43 weeks for fathers to bring paid leave entitlements for both parents to 52 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39123/23]
View answerCurrently, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. Parent’s Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on Parent’s Leave from work who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. In 2023, it is estimated that my Department will spend in excess of €89 million on Parent’s Benefit in respect of an average of 6,040 recipients per week.
Any decision to extend the period of Parent’s Leave for employees is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has policy and legal responsibility for Parent's Leave. An extension of this leave would require careful consideration and consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The cost of extending Parent’ Benefit by 19 weeks for mothers is approximately €243.7 million. The cost of extending Parent’ Benefit by 43 weeks for fathers is approximately €551.6 million. These estimates are based on a full year basis and on the number of recipients in 2022.
It should be noted that this costing is subject to change in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated number of recipients.
In line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be increased by an additional two weeks to nine weeks by August 2024. When the current durations of Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Leave are combined this adds to 42 weeks of paid leave for a two-parent family. This will increase to 46 weeks by August 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
