Paternity benefit was introduced from 1st September 2016 and provides a payment in respect of two weeks paternity leave to be taken within 26 weeks of the birth of the baby. In the period from the commencement of the scheme up to the end of September 2018 a total of 48,806 people have availed of this leave and have been awarded and paid paternity benefit.
The table shows a breakdown by county of paternity benefit claimants for the period 1st September 2016 up to end September 2018, the latest period for which detailed statistics are available.
PATERNITY BENEFIT Claimants by County Breakdown
County
|
Awarded Sept - Dec 2016
|
Awarded 2017
|
Awarded Jan 2018 – Sept 2018
|
Total Awarded
|
Carlow
|
64
|
302
|
206
|
572
|
Cavan
|
75
|
424
|
300
|
799
|
Clare
|
107
|
592
|
403
|
1102
|
Cork
|
634
|
3334
|
2297
|
6265
|
Donegal
|
155
|
686
|
509
|
1350
|
Dublin
|
1345
|
7495
|
5194
|
14034
|
Galway
|
284
|
1522
|
1010
|
2816
|
Kerry
|
127
|
699
|
455
|
1281
|
Kildare
|
234
|
1387
|
897
|
2518
|
Kilkenny
|
115
|
511
|
297
|
923
|
Laois
|
65
|
409
|
259
|
733
|
Leitrim
|
43
|
189
|
124
|
356
|
Limerick
|
195
|
1010
|
696
|
1901
|
Longford
|
40
|
194
|
125
|
359
|
Louth
|
141
|
640
|
423
|
1204
|
Mayo
|
144
|
655
|
408
|
1207
|
Meath
|
209
|
1104
|
718
|
2031
|
Monaghan
|
69
|
341
|
272
|
682
|
Offaly
|
73
|
391
|
288
|
752
|
Roscommon
|
56
|
337
|
197
|
590
|
Sligo
|
71
|
335
|
248
|
654
|
Tipperary
|
151
|
828
|
530
|
1509
|
Waterford
|
129
|
582
|
419
|
1130
|
Westmeath
|
101
|
499
|
343
|
943
|
Wexford
|
140
|
757
|
496
|
1393
|
Wicklow
|
145
|
775
|
519
|
1439
|
Others
|
20
|
141
|
102
|
263
|
TOTAL
|
4932
|
26139
|
17735
|
48806
|
I hope that clarifies the matter for the Deputy.