Greens expand paid parent leave to 9 weeks

Parents will benefit from an extra two weeks of paid leave after the birth a child, starting August 1st, Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has announced. Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit schemes, the number of weeks that parents can take time off work with financial support from the State, increases from 7 weeks to 9 weeks.

Minister O’Gorman commented:

“It is so important that parents are supported to spend time with their children during those precious first few years. 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 support applies to both parents and is part of the Government’s ambition to ensure that parents can enjoy meaningful quality time with their new-born in the knowledge they will be financially supported.

Parent’s Leave and Benefit is available to eligible parents with a child under 2 years of age or who have adopted a child within the last 2 years. In 2023, almost 78,200 Parent’s Benefit claims were awarded – compared to just 16,700 in 2020.

Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh, Green Party spokesperson for Social Protection, said;

“The Green Party wants Ireland to be the best country in Europe to raise children and we are doing all we can to give parents the time and support they need with their newborns. Having a new child can be very stressful, so we want to help take the pressure off. Now parents have more time with their children while still receiving income.

When we had our first boy back in 2012, I had only 3 days paternity leave that I could take. By the time our third arrived, that had increased to two weeks, and what a difference that made. Under this government, that has increased significantly, giving parents more time with their new arrivals - that's better for baby and better for parents too.”