Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 March 2026
349. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Social Protection whether there is any difference between statutory parental leave and parental leave within the Civil Service/semi-State bodies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20986/26]
View answerUnder the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child for the purpose of caring for that child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting 'in loco parentis’.
The legislation provides that both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave. Where both parents work for the same employer and the employer agrees, one parent can transfer 14 weeks of their parental leave entitlement to the other parent. Parental leave can be taken in one continuous period of leave or 2 separate blocks of at least 6 weeks each (there must be a gap of at least 10 weeks between these 2 periods). This leave can also be split into working days or hours if an employer agrees.
Minister Chambers has responsibility for setting the terms and conditions around leave entitlements for Civil Servants. Within the Civil Service, employees are also entitled to 26 weeks of parental leave; however, this leave may be taken up to the child’s 16th birthday in all circumstances, including in cases involving disability, long-term illness, or adoption. All other aspects of the entitlement are aligned with the statutory provisions.
I trust this clarifies matter for the Deputy.
