Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
2821. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any engagement she has had with an organisation (details supplied) in relation to its calls to create a multi-stakeholder paternity leave working group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59674/26]
View answer2823. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on the proposal by an organisation (details supplied) to review statutory paternity leave and to develop a pathway towards offering additional fully paid leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59686/26]
View answer2827. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality her views on creating a statutory reporting mechanism for private sector firms regarding the uptake of paternity leave by their employees that would seek to increase the rate of employees availing of this leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59702/26]
View answer2828. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the position regarding any initiative under consideration within her Department that seeks to increase the uptake of paternity leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59707/26]
View answer3103. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the Government's current position regarding the extension of statutory paid paternity leave; whether consideration is being given to increasing the current entitlement of two weeks' paid paternity leave to eight weeks or a comparable period; whether any review of Ireland's paternity leave provisions has been undertaken in view of arrangements available in other European jurisdictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63230/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2821, 2823, 2827, 2828 and 3103 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.
The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future-commits to examining the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities that can be introduced, and this is the priority for the Department at present. 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 was published on the 5th August 2026 and includes actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. Any initiatives to boost the uptake of Paternity Leave 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 31st 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.
