Louise O'Reilly
Question:364. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding adoptive leave to 26-weeks. [46603/26]
View answerThursday, 18 June 2026
Questions (364, 384, 385)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:384. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of extending maternity benefit by an additional two weeks. [46720/26]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:385. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of extending parent's benefit by an additional two weeks. [46721/26]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 384 and 385 together.
The Department for Children, Disability and Equality has policy and legal responsibility for all family leaves, including any extension to the period of leave under the various schemes. My Department has responsibility for the associated benefits.
Extending Adoptive leave by two weeks from twenty four weeks to twenty six weeks would result in an estimated additional annual cost of over €18,000 with a new total annual cost of some €237,000. However, the cost would be more if the number of adoptions increase in future years.
Extending Maternity Benefit by an additional two weeks, from its current twenty six weeks entitlement to twenty eight weeks could result in an estimated additional annual cost of over €23 million with a new total annual cost of some €324 million.
Extending Parent’s Benefit by two weeks from its current nine weeks to eleven weeks per parent could result in an additional annual cost of over €27 million with a new total annual cost of over €150 million.
It should be noted that these costings have been calculated using 2026 expenditure estimates. They are based on estimated recipient numbers and take up and are therefore subject to change.
Any changes to these schemes would have to be considered in a budgetary context having regard to overall improvements to social welfare schemes and the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.