Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
78. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of those availing of parent's leave and parent's benefit, by county, since the extension was announced on 1 April 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24685/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question intends to find out the number of those availing of parent's leave and parent's benefit, by county, since the extension was announced on 1 April 2021 and asks the Minister to make a statement on the matter.
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government has committed to the continued support of working parents to achieve a better work-life balance. Parent’s leave and benefit falls into this category and encourages the sharing of parental responsibilities equally between couples. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid parent’s leave for each parent of a child born or adopted after 1 November 2019. In budget 2021, this leave increased from two weeks to five weeks. Since these changes came into effect in April 2021, parent’s benefit is paid at a weekly flat rate of €250 for five weeks to employed and self-employed people who avail of parent's leave and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution and other conditions. The rate of parent’s benefit is the same as the rates of paternity benefit, adoptive benefit and maternity benefit. A total of 51,400 applications for parent’s benefit were awarded in 2021 compared with 16,700 in 2020, representing an increase of more than 300%. Since the start of 2022, the total applications awarded to the end of April stands at almost 22,000.
The number of parents who have availed of parent’s leave and benefit, by county, since the expansion of the scheme from two to five weeks on 1 April 2021 is set out in tabular form. The counties with large populations, namely, Dublin and Cork, tend to have the most claims, with some 14,200 and 7,300 applications respectively. My officials regularly review county statistics to look for emerging trends across all schemes administered by the Department.
From July 2022, parent’s leave and benefit will further increase from five weeks to seven weeks. The additional two weeks of parent's leave will apply to parents of children who are under the age of two in July 2022 or adoptive children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years in July 2022.
|
Antrim |
11 |
|
Armagh |
42 |
|
Carlow |
648 |
|
Cavan |
966 |
|
Clare |
1271 |
|
Cork |
7263 |
|
Derry |
47 |
|
Donegal |
1636 |
|
Down |
99 |
|
Dublin |
14246 |
|
Fermanagh |
48 |
|
Galway |
3348 |
|
Kerry |
1683 |
|
Kildare |
3070 |
|
Kilkenny |
1193 |
|
Laois |
890 |
|
Leitrim |
440 |
|
Limerick |
2134 |
|
Longford |
452 |
|
Louth |
1369 |
|
Mayo |
1568 |
|
Meath |
2567 |
|
Monaghan |
891 |
|
Offaly |
827 |
|
Roscommon |
736 |
|
Sligo |
804 |
|
Tipperary |
1875 |
|
Tyrone |
29 |
|
Waterford |
1383 |
|
Westmeath |
1190 |
|
Wexford |
1634 |
|
Wicklow |
1563 |
|
Total |
55923 |
I thank the Minister. I welcomed last year's extension of parent's leave and benefit to all eligible parents of children born or adopted after 1 November 2019. Those five weeks' leave must be used within two years of the child's birth or adoption. These are important payments and help parents to take the time needed to support their children and to help meet the cost of living.
As children grow, another benefit that is of great importance for parents is child benefit. We know it is a crucial payment for many parents and families. I am frequently contacted by parents in difficult circumstances as they are finding it hard to access the payment for their children who are over 16 and may have left school but cannot find a job or training. Perhaps the Minister could come back to me on that issue.
As I said, we are going to increase parent's leave and benefit to seven weeks this year. I think parent's benefit, to which the question related, is very important. It is important for parents to be with their children in their most formative years. They need that quality time. It is not easy when parents are out working and both parents have to work these days. It is good that this support is available for parents.
To give the Deputy some statistics, 648 parents in her own county of Carlow received the parent's benefit, as did 1,193 parents in the neighbouring county of Kilkenny.
On the question about the children's allowance payment, which has a new name I have forgotten, I do not know the specific case about which the Deputy is talking. I am happy to hear about the individual case and I will take it up on the Deputy's behalf.
I thank the Minister. I appreciate what she has said and will come back to her with those details. Are parents aware of enhanced supports under last year's announcement for parent's leave and parent's benefit? Does more need to be done in communication of that? We have talked about social welfare and the needs assessment office with our social welfare office, which is doing its best. The Minister has spoken about people not getting their payments. Sometimes the problem may be a lack of information. Different offices kept different hours during the pandemic. Communication is essential. Are we considering enhanced communication on the issue of child benefit? Are there any plans to review the upper age threshold for that payment? One of the biggest issues I have been facing recently is the limit to child benefit when the child concerned turns 16 and has left school.
From July 2022, parent's leave and benefit will increase from five weeks to seven weeks. I and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who has responsibility for policy in this area, will undertake to do a communications campaign at that time to make sure people are aware of it. This is an important support for parents and it is something we want people to take up. I am delighted there was such an increase in the numbers of people availing of the support in 2021. I hope that in 2022, that figure will grow further. Some 55,923 parents availed of the support in 2021, at a cost of over €50.8 million in total. That money is well spent because it gives parents the time to spend with their children.
