Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 4, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following: “Report on extending availability of full Parent’s Benefit to Lone Parents

9. The Minister shall prepare and lay a report before the Houses of the Oireachtas on extending the availability of the full duration of Parent’s Benefit to lone parents to examine the effect that enabling all children to equally avail of the full duration of this Benefit would have and the report shall be presented to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Social Protection within 9 months of the enactment of this Bill.”.

This is an issue I raised with the Minister previously, which relates to parent's leave and benefit. At the moment, there is a leave period of seven weeks which, of course, is welcome. In the case of a lone-parent family, the newborn will have seven weeks with the parent whereas a two-parent family will have 14 weeks. I do not believe that is fair.

It would be positive and welcome if the Minister would agree to look at this. This would affect a very small number of people and, therefore, would not cost a lot. It is not fair that a child in a lone-parent family should be disadvantaged versus a child in a two-parent household. Those parents only get half of the same leave entitlement and time spent with their child at such a young age. In fairness, it should be looked at.

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