Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
471. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will outline the estimated cost to the Exchequer of extending paid paternity leave from two weeks to eight weeks; whether such costings have been prepared by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53643/26]
View answerPaternity Leave and Benefit are provided for under the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act of 2016. The Department for Children, Disability and Equality has policy and legal responsibility for all family leaves, including any extension or expansion of the scheme, while my Department has policy and legal responsibility for the associated benefit.
Paternity Benefit is paid for two weeks at €299 per week and is payable to relevant parents who meet the relevant conditions and are on Paternity Leave from their employment.
Extending Paternity Benefit, from its current two week entitlement to eight weeks is estimated to cost over an additional €52 million per year. These costings have been calculated using 2026 expenditure estimates and 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.
