Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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956. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the changes he plans to make in respect of the parental and maternity leave schemes in 2021; if indicated changes can be brought forward to facilitate mothers that had their babies earlier in 2020 when very strict Covid-19 restrictions were in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33933/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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To support paretns of children born during the strict lockdown measures, the Government intends to extend parent's leave from two weeks to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 Nov 2019. The Government also intends to extend the period in which parent's leave can be taken up until that child turns two or, in the case of an adoption, two years after the adoption placement date of the child. This extension will apply to parents who may have already availed of their existing entitlements.

Heads of a Bill to effect these changes are currently being drafted in my Department and I hope to bring these to Government shortly.

The extension of parent's benefit is a matter for the Minister of Social Protection and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made and that it will likely be April 2021 before the necessary updates can take place. However, it may be possible for parent's leave to be taken in advance of these changes and the benefit claimed retrospectively, once the legislation has been enacted, and I will ensure that parents are fully informed on their entitlements in this regard..

The extension to parent's leave and benefit follows a number of advancements in family leaves in recent years, including the introduction of parents leave and benefit in 2019 and the extension of unpaid parental leave to 26 weeks in September this year for a child under 12 years.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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957. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of and position regarding the extension of three weeks of maternity leave introduced to alleviate the Covid-19 restrictions which applies to parents of children born after 1 November 2019; the timeframe for the leave to be initiated; if the leave will be paid; if there were changes in Budget 2021 referring to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32316/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 provides for two weeks of parent’s leave and benefit for all new parents in employment or self-employment in respect of children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019. This is to facilitate parents to spend more time with their children in their critical first year of life.

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced in Budget 2021 that he would extend parent’s leave by a further three weeks for all children born or placed for adoption on or after 1 November 2019, and extend the period in which this leave can be taken to two years. This means that each parent will be able to avail of five weeks of parent’s leave for a child born on or after 1 November 2019.

Legislation will be required to progress this commitment and work is now underway in my Department in this regard. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has indicated that parent's benefit will be payable from 1 April 2021. Parents will be able to take parent's leave once the legislation is in place and to apply for the parent's benefit retrospectively.