Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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254. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the additional paid parental leave announced as part of budget 2019 will be available to parents in respect of children born on or after the date of its announcement in budget 2019; if it will only apply to parents in respect of children born on or after the date of its implementation in late 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9396/19]

Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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255. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be administrative or legal technicalities that would mean the exclusion of parents of children born in 2019 after the additional paid parental leave announced as part of budget 2019; his plans to include those parents with children born after the budget 2019 announcement in 2019 or who are still under one year of age when the scheme is implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9397/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.

The Deputy will be aware that as part of Budget 2019, the Government announced the introduction of a new social insurance based paid parental benefit scheme. This new scheme will support parents during the first year of the child's life by providing two weeks of paid leave to both parents, and will allow parents more flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance.

It is envisaged that the scheme will commence in late 2019 and will be available to parents in respect all children born on or after the date of its implementation.

The conditions of eligibility for the scheme will be provided for in legislation which is currently being developed by my Department, in cooperation with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.