Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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642. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to ensure that fathers can take the newly introduced parental leave immediately after their two weeks paternity leave if they have taken that leave immediately after the birth of their child; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the need to have a PPS number for the child and the length of time it takes to obtain the number may preclude fathers from taking the leave at the time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51783/19]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Parent’s benefit is available for parents of new babies born or children adopted from 1st November 2019, who are on parent's leave from work. This leave and benefit is family-friendly and flexible, allowing parents to take leave for one week or two at a time and is in addition to existing maternity, adoptive and paternity benefits.

New Parents can apply for paternity and maternity benefits before the birth of their child based on the expected due date. Parent's benefit differs from these schemes and is available to provide care for the child, and can be taken in individual periods of a week over a period of 12 months. Providing the child's PPSN enables the department to ensure that a parent receives their full entitlement during this period.

Parents are required to register their child's birth within 3 months and will automatically receive a PPSN. Data shows that during 2018 almost 40% of babies were registered within the first 2 weeks and this increased to almost 70% within 4 weeks following birth.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.