Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
278. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 24 January 2024, when he will bring forward the regulation to extend the duration of parental leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9889/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, seven weeks Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The leave and benefit must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoptive placement.
In line with the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, Parent’s Leave and Benefit is required to increase by an additional two weeks to nine weeks by August 2024.
In Budget 2024, the Government provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks from August 2024. The additional two weeks leave and benefit will be introduced by way of a regulation under the Parent's Leave and Benefits Act 2019 prior to that date. The Department of Social Protection is responsible for the associated changes to Parent's Benefit for the increased period of leave. Details on the date on which the regulation will be brought forward will be made known as soon as possible once timelines for its finalisation have been confirmed.
I am currently consulting with the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform with regard to making the regulations.
