LAST UPDATE | 1 Aug

PAID PARENT’S LEAVE will be extended from today, increasing from seven weeks to nine.

The entitlement is available during the first two years of a child’s life, or within two years of the placement of a child with their family in the case of adoption.

The measures were included in Budget 2024.

The leave is available to employees and people who are self-employed for €274 each week.

If your child was under the age of 2 on this date 1 August 2024, then the additional two weeks’ parent’s leave can still be received. This also applies to whether your adopted child had been placed with your family less than two years on today’s date.

Paid benefit is available during parent’s leave if you are in employment or self-employed and have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions.

Parent’s Leave is different to Parental Leave, which under EU legislation entitles parents to four months of unpaid leave from work, which can be taken in increments.

Employers don’t have to pay staff while on parent’s leave although some employers may ‘top-up’ the parent’s leave.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the measure will benefit thousands of families with young children.

“Time spent with a new-born child in the early months of their life is so important and the expansion of these schemes will facilitate parents in spending more time with their children during this important phase of their child’s life,” said Humphreys. 

Meanwhile, Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman it is “so important that parents are supported to spend time with their children during those precious first few years”. 

For more information see here.