Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
21. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Social Protection the engagement she has had with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress the legislation for parental leave; the progress being made to have a form of application available to persons looking to apply for these additional three weeks benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40058/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraParent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021 and agreed by all Government Ministers. This measure will cost an estimated €28.6 million in 2021 and will support up to 39,000 parents. This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted since 1st November 2019 and the period during which this leave can be taken extended from 12 to 24 months. Officials from my Department continue to work closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with regards to the implementation of this extension and the draft Heads are at an advanced stage and are expected to be brought to Government shortly. The extra weeks leave will be made available as soon as the necessary legislation which is being drafted by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is enacted. It will also be necessary for parallel amendments to the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended) to provide for the extended payment of benefit. In addition, significant changes are required to the Department's systems to administer this extension, including the provision of retrospective entitlement. This work needs to be undertaken so that is does not compromise existing supports in an environment where there are unprecedented levels of demand on the Department’s services due to Covid-19. Once the new application and payment system goes live in April, my Department will process and issue benefit payments to include backdated payment of benefit as appropriate in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment. The application form will be made available to coincide with the introduction of the system amendments. I can assure the Deputy that everything is being done to expedite this process.
