Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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454. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of paternity leave increasing from two to five weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44275/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid parent’s leave for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.

Under proposals approved by Government on 8 December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid parent's leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.

It is anticipated that the legislation will be introduced in the New Year.

There are currently no plans to extend paternity leave beyond 2 weeks. Paternity leave is available to relevant parents, which includes the father of the child, the partner of the mother of the child and the parent of a donor-conceived child. The leave is also available to relevant parents or parent of an adopted child.