PAID PARENTAL LEAVE should be extended to cover the first year of a child’s life, a group has proposed.

The Start Strong group has submitted a proposal to the National Early Years Strategy saying that the current parental leave should be extended to the first year of a child’s life, the Irish Times reports today.

Currently, pregnant women are entitled to 26 weeks’ paid maternity leave – but there is no legal requirement for employers to offer paternity leave to new fathers.

New or expectant parents might welcome the move – as it would give them more time with their children, without having to worry about an imminent return to work or a drop in their income.

However, others could argue that it would have an impact on the private sector – as employers would have to pay a substitute worker as well as the new parent.

Should parent leave be extended to cover a child’s first year?