Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2026
481. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Youth if surrogacy leave legislation applying fully to the education sector will be implemented at any point (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5650/26]
View answerLeave entitlements for public servants are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education and Youth, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.
Currently, there is no legislative entitlement to surrogacy leave in Ireland. The Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation has confirmed that there is no overarching civil service or public sector policy pertaining to leave entitlements for surrogate parents. Therefore, civil servants or public servants who are surrogate parents, currently do not have statutory surrogacy leave entitlements.
