Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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569. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the expected timeline for completion of legislation to extend paid parental leave by an additional three weeks; if payment for additional parental leave taken prior to the passing of this legislation can be backdated for parents whose child was born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/21]

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 in 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 early 2021.

Payment of Parents’ Benefit is a matter for the Minister for Social Protection, and I understand that it will take time for the relevant IT system changes to be made. As a result, the estimated timescale for the necessary updates being put in place is April 2021 .

Legislation is currently being developed to provide for the additional views of Parents' Leave.

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