Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 February 2026
21. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of men, and number of women, who applied for parent’s benefit in the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14193/26]
View answerParent’s Benefit was introduced in November 2019. It provides each parent with nine weeks of non-transferrable leave to be taken within two years of the birth, or placement in the case of adoption, of a child and is available to employed and self-employed persons who are eligible for Parent’s Leave.
The current rate of payment for Parent’s Benefit is €299 per week, as announced in Budget 2026.
My Department received almost 77,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit in 2023, almost 93,000 in 2024, and almost 94,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of nearly 22% between 2023 and 2025.
My Department awarded over 78,000 applications for Parent’s Benefit in 2023, almost 91,000 in 2024, and almost 96,000 in 2025. This represents an increase of over 22% between 2023 and 2025.
A gender breakdown of claim applications is not available; however a gender breakdown of persons who receive the Parent's Benefit payment is published quarterly by my Department.
In the fourth quarter of 2025, over 25,700 people received at least one Parent’s Benefit payment. Of these, 15,500, or 60%, were female and 10,200, or 40%, were male.
In Q4 2024, around 28,700 people received a payment. Of these recipients, 18,100, or 63%, were female while 37%, were male.
Finally, in Q4 2023, there were 22,000 recipients of Parent's Benefit, with 13,500, or 61%, being female, and 39%, being male.
I will arrange for a table of detailed numbers to be sent to the Deputy.
