Extension of Paid Parent’s Leave and Benefit to Seven Weeks from 1st July 2022

From today, 1st July, parents can avail of seven weeks paid Parent’s Leave and Benefit.

The support applies to both parents and is up from the current limit of five weeks.

The seven weeks can be taken together, or as separate weeks of leave and the leave period remains the same in the case of multiple births.

The additional two weeks will apply to parents of children who are under two in July 2022 or adoptive children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years in July 2022.

Employed and self-employed parents who take Parent’s Leave may be eligible for Parent’s Benefit if they have paid sufficient pay related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Parent’s Benefit is only paid once for both single and multiple births.

Parent’s Benefit is paid at a rate of €250 a week – the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefit. Seven weeks payment would represent a total of €1,750 per parent.

There is no obligation for an employer to pay an employee on Parent’s Leave, although some employers may ‘top-up’ the Parent’s Benefit.

It has been reported that the take-up of Parents Leave and Benefit has increased three-fold since 2020. In 2021, 51,400 parents were supported – compared to just 16,700 in 2020. Since the start of this year, the total number of applications has reached over 28,000.

Plans have also been reported to further extend the scheme to nine weeks, in line with the Work Life Balance Directive.

Please contact us at:
Dublin Office: (01) 561 3594 | Cork Office: (021) 486 1420 | Shannon Office: (061) 363 805
info@adarehrm.ie | www.adarehrm.ie

Please note that this content is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other advice.