Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
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459. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the extension of parental leave from two weeks to five weeks will be legislated for; when parents can apply for five weeks parental leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4989/21]

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeframe for an increase in paid parental leave from two to five weeks for each parent of all children born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019 as committed to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5063/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 459, 460 and 468 together.

The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks of paid Parents' 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 Parents' 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. Legislation is currently being developed in this regard and it is anticipated that it 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.