Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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145. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if it is the policy of his Department to extend parent’s leave in 2022 and in subsequent years; the final total parent’s leave entitlement will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48198/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced 2 weeks' paid parent's leave to each parent of a child born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019. The leave was to be taken during the first year of a child's life, or in the case of adoption, within 1 year of the placement of the child with that family.

The Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 extended paid parent's leave to 5 weeks leave to be taken during the first 2 years or a child's life, or in the case of adoption, within 2 years of the placement of the child with that family.

Any decision on further extension of this leave will be taken in consultation with the Minister for Social Protection, who is responsible for the payment of parent's benefit, and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

Ireland has obligations with regard to the duration of paid leave arising from Article 5(2) of Directive 2019/1158 of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers which requires Member States to provide each worker with two months of non-transferable parental leave (known as parent's leave). Article 8(3) of the aforementioned Directive requires that this leave is paid.

The Directive requires Ireland to provide 7 weeks of paid parent's leave by 2 August 2022. Member States must provide a final 2 weeks of paid parent's leave by 2 August 2024.