Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
636. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to set out whether her Department has conducted or intends to conduct any review of the current two-week paid paternity leave entitlement, with particular reference to international best practice and the evidence supporting longer periods of leave for fathers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53638/26]
View answer637. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the rationale for maintaining the current two week paid paternity leave provision in circumstances where a number of EU member states have significantly expanded entitlements for fathers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53639/26]
View answer638. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department has examined the potential social, economic and health impacts of extending paid paternity leave to eight weeks, including impacts on child development, maternal recovery, workplace retention; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53640/26]
View answer639. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide details of any engagement her Department has had with stakeholders, including employer groups, trade unions and family advocacy organisations, regarding proposals to extend paid paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53641/26]
View answer640. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will confirm whether her Department has developed or intends to develop a timeline for reviewing or expanding paid paternity leave entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53642/26]
View answer641. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on any analysis undertaken by her Department regarding the uptake of paternity benefit since its introduction; whether this data informs consideration of an extended leave period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53644/26]
View answer642. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider piloting an extended paternity leave scheme or phased increase in entitlements, in line with international developments and domestic demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53645/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 636 to 642, inclusive, together.
There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years.
The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides the relevant parent (other than the mother of the child) with 2 weeks paid paternity leave. S.6(5) of the Act limits this entitlement in the case of multiple births to a single period of leave.
Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are now entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Parent's Leave is an individual separate entitlement and is non-transferable between parents.
Under 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. 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’. Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave.
The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.
A key priority in First 5, the whole of Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families (2019-2028) is to support parents to look after their babies at home for the whole of their first year given the benefits of parental care in that first year for children’s outcomes.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and are also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being finalised and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work.
The first Action Plan is due to be brought to Government in the coming weeks. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.
The Programme for Government also commits to introducing Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and exploring other payments where a similar model could be applied. A pay-related model was introduced on 31 March 2025 for Jobseeker’s Benefit. The Department of Social Protection will draw on the learnings and operational experience from that scheme to inform the development of options for Parent's Benefit and other family leave schemes.
