Parent’s Leave and Parent’s Benefit will be extended from seven weeks to nine weeks, starting today.
The measures were announced as part of Budget 2024.
Parents will be able to claim the additional two weeks’ leave if their child is under the age of two, or if an adopted child has been placed with a family for less than two years.
Parent’s Leave is available to both employees and people who are self-employed.
Parent’s Benefit is paid at a rate of €274 per week and can be claimed by people who are on Parent’s Leave from work, if they have enough social insurance (PRSI) contributions.
Employers do not have to pay workers who are on Parent’s Leave, although some may ‘top-up’ Parent’s Benefit payments.
Parent’s Leave is different to Parental Leave, which entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children.
Since 1 September 2020, both parents can take up to 26 weeks of Parental Leave.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said it was an important support for parents and the success of the policy can be seen in the take-up rates.
“It is so important that parents are supported to spend time with their children during those precious first few years,” he said.
I’m delighted that from August, parents with a child under 2 years of age or who have adopted a child within the last 2 years will each be entitled to an extra two weeks of paid parent’s leave.
“Since 2020, the Government has more than quadrupled paid parent’s leave, from two weeks up to nine weeks. Alongside record investment in early learning and childcare, we will continue to work at supporting parents and ensuring that children get the best start in life.”
The quickest and easiest way to apply for Parent’s Benefit is online via MyWelfare.ie
