Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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415. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the ongoing engagement she has had with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to progress a form of application to be made available to persons looking to apply or avail of the additional three weeks benefit under parent’s leave and benefit announced in Budget 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5287/21]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the additional two weeks week parent’s leave benefit will come into effect; and the way in which applications will be processed and the leave administered. [5398/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 420 together.

Parent’s Leave and Benefit will be extended from 2 weeks for each parent to 5 weeks as announced in Budget 2021.  This extension will be made available retrospectively to parents in respect of children born or adopted on or after 1st November 2019.  The period during which this leave can be taken will be extended from 12 to 24 months so it can be taken up to a child's second birthday or within two years following adoption.

In early December 2020, Government approved the drafting of a Parent’s Leave and Benefit (Amendment) Bill, to provide for these statutory amendments.

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has responsibility for parents leave policy and is leading on this legislation.  An application process for parent's leave and benefit can only be introduced when the necessary statutory provisions are in place to provide for this leave.  

Changes are also required to my Department's systems to administer this extension, including the provision of retrospective entitlement, which are well advanced.  My Department will then be in a position to process and issue benefit payments, to include backdated payment of benefit if appropriate, in respect of Parents Leave taken from the date of enactment.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputies.