Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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145. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if five weeks' parental leave will commence in April 2021. [13852/21]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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146. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the parent’s leave and benefit (amendment) Bill 2020 will be introduced in Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13575/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 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.

In December 2020, the Government approved the drafting of a Parents' Leave Bill to provide an additional three weeks of paid Parents' Leave to each parent, and to extend the period in which the leave can be taken to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.

The Family Leave Bill 2021 was published on 9 March 2021 and the Bill will proceed to Second Stage in the Seanad on 12 March 2021. It is anticipated that this legislation will be enacted by the beginning of April 2021.