Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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169. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans with regard to the expansion of parent’s leave in 2022; if the leave will be granted retrospectively in respect of children born before its intended introduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5316/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. The additional two weeks’ leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under the age of 2 in July 2022, or in the case of adoption, children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years at that point.

The extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit will require the making of an Order as well as amendments to social protection legislation, which the Department of Social Protection will bring forward. Practical changes to the Department of Social Protection benefit systems will also be required.

No date for implementation is yet available but a date will be publicized in due course.