Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to review the age limits for parents to take maternity leave (details supplied); the details of the differing entitlements to parental leave for working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12507/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, I assume the Deputy is referring to the age limits concerned with parental leave entitlements as there are no age limits associated with entitlement to maternity leave.

Section 6 of the Parental Leave Act 1998 provides for 18 weeks unpaid parental leave for a child up to the age of eight, or 16 years of age in the case of a child with a serious illness or disability. 

The age of the child provided for in the Act is a statutory minimum and it is at the discretion of individual employers whether they wish to extend the eligibility criteria for their employees to avail of parental leave beyond that minimum.

I can advise the Deputy that there are no current plans to increase the age for parental leave beyond eight years of age.  However this is an issue which may be considered in the current broader discussions on parental leave.