Thursday 1st April 2021
Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman T.D. and the Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys T.D., today commenced the family leave provisions under the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021, meaning parents can now avail of three weeks additional Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit.
New provisions now available under the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 include:
The Act provides working parents with an entitlement to an additional three weeks of paid Parent’s Leave for each parent – bringing the total to five weeks paid leave, per parent. The period in which the leave can be taken is extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
The extension will allow parents to spend time with their child in the earliest years. It is non-transferrable between parents to ensure that both parents are encouraged and supported in taking time out from work to spend time with their child.
The additional 3 weeks of Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit is available to employees and the self-employed in respect of children born or adopted after 1 November 2019. Parent’s Benefit will be paid at the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive benefits, which is €245 per week.
Adoptive Leave and Benefit is being extended to male same sex couples, fulfilling an important commitment in the Programme for Government.
Adoptive parents are now provided with greater flexibility to decide which parent will avail of adoptive leave and benefit, with paternity leave and benefit available to the parent not availing of adoptive leave.
Commenting on the commencement of the Act, Minister O’Gorman said:
"Supporting working parents to achieve a better work-life balance is something I and my Government colleagues are committed to, so I am delighted that parents can now take up three weeks additional parent’s leave and parent’s benefit.
“The Family Leave Act modernises the law in relation to both adoptive leave and parent’s leave, reflecting the diversity of Irish families in 2021 and acknowledges that, for many Irish families, both parents are working. Importantly, it also encourages the sharing of parental responsibilities equally between couples”.
Minister Humphreys commented:
“The first two years of life is an important time for both the new-born and their parents and I am delighted that today’s announcement will allow parents to spend more of this special time with their child so they can forge special memories together.
“I am particularly pleased today to extend Parent’s Benefit to 5 weeks for each parent and I urge everyone eligible to avail of this support. You can apply online via www.MyWelfare.ie.”
