Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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718. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding parental leave from 1 April 2021. [17070/21]

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.

The Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 provides an additional three weeks of paid parent's 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. This Act was signed into law by the President on 27 March 2021.

Each parent is entitled to five weeks parent’s leave from the date that the relevant sections of the Act are commenced. Where a parent has already availed of the existing two week entitlement, they will be entitled to take an additional three weeks parent's leave. It is anticipated that commencement will take place on 1 April 2021.