Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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322. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will encourage public sector and civil service employers to top-up the salaries of employees availing of the paid parents' leave scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8450/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In March 2021, my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth amended the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 to provide for five weeks statutory leave from April 2021 for a relevant parent within the first two years of a child’s life, or in the case of adoption, within two years of the placement of the child with the family. This is in addition to the existing Maternity Benefit and Paternity Benefit.

Where enough PRSI contributions have been made, those availing of Parent's Leave are entitled to a payment from the Department of Social Protection. This payment for private and public sector workers is set at €250 per week and is paid from the Social Insurance Fund. As announced in Budget 2022 the 5 weeks of Parent's Leave/Benefit will increase to 7 weeks from July 2022. The benefit will be paid at the same rate.