Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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2127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing paid paternity leave by 1 to 16 weeks respectively. [28591/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 which was enacted in July 2016 introduced a new scheme of paternity leave and an associated social welfare payment of paternity benefit from the 1st September 2016.

Approximately 12,750 paternity benefit claims have been awarded since the commencement of the scheme in September. This would indicate a take up of around approximately 19,000 in a full year. However there were approximately 7,500 paternity benefit claims awarded in the first four months of this year. This would indicate a take up of approximately 22,500 in a full year. However neither figure takes account of the fact that fathers can take their paternity leave up to 6 months after their child is born. For example, fathers whose child was born on the 28th February 2017 can take their leave at any time up to 1st September 2017. As such, current figures for paternity benefit claims awarded do not include fathers who will apply and take their leave in the remaining months available to them.

Given the flexibility afforded to fathers and the scheme cycle it will be 18 months from the commencement of the scheme before the Department will have an accurate figure for the take-up of paternity benefit in a full year. The estimates below are based on this proviso.

The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of paternity benefit is approximately €5.5 million for each extra week. The table below estimates the additional cost of increasing the duration of paternity benefit above its current 2 week duration at the current weekly rate of €235.

Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of Paternity Benefit based on 2017 rates

These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The cost in the first year would depend on the implementation date that the increase in duration would take effect. This cost would be proportional to the full year cost.

It should be noted that this costing is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.