Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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247. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if parents of a child must be engaged in civil partnership and-or married to avail of parent benefit (details supplied); if couples that cohabit are also entitled to parent benefit in respect of children they may have following the introduction of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48396/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parent’s benefit is available for all parents of new babies born or children adopted from 1st November 2019 to care for their child. This benefit is family-friendly and flexible, allowing parents to take leave for one week or two at a time. Each parent will be able to take the new paid leave any time during their child’s first year. This is in addition to existing maternity, adoptive and paternity benefits.

The benefit is available to a parent or adopting parent of a child including their spouse, civil partner or cohabitant as the case may be.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.