Who can take Parent’s Leave?

Relevant parents can take Parent’s Leave for eligible children. A relevant parent is one of the following:

• A parent of the child

• A spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the parent of the child

• A parent of a donor-conceived child as provided for under section 5 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015

• The adopting parent or parents of a child

• The spouse, civil partner or spouse of the adopting parent of the child (if the parents have not adopted jointly).

• Each member of a married couple of the same sex, a couple that are civil partners of each other, or a cohabiting couple of the same sex

How to apply for Parent’s Leave

You must give notice to your employer before you can take Parent’s Leave, as follows:

• Give your notice in writing

• Tell your employer at least 6 weeks before the leave is due to start

• Include the start date, the way the leave will be taken and how long the leave will last

• If you’re self-employed, you self-certify your parent’s leave to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and declare that you will not engage in any employment during your Parent’s Leave.

To find out more

Visit citizensinformation.ie, call 0761 07 4000 or drop into your local Citizens Information Centre.