Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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237. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the social insurance based parental leave benefit scheme announced as part of budget 2019; if the scheme will be in place by November 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39317/19]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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 As the Deputy will be aware, on 23 April 2019, the Government announced that it had approved the priority drafting of the Parental Leave and Benefit Bill 2019. The proposed legislation will provide for two weeks of parental leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of babies born on or after 1 November 2019. This will facilitate parents in spending more time with their babies in their critical first 12 months.  I expect the Bill to be published shortly.