Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current position regarding the necessary legislation which will give effect to the increase in parent’s benefit to seven weeks from July 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20623/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Parent's Leave and Benefit is currently available to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 for five weeks and must be used within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption.

Provision was 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 age 2 in July 2022 or in the case of adoption, children who have been placed with their parents for less than two years.  

Section 8 of the Social Welfare Act 2021 provides for the extension of Parent's Benefit by two weeks.  It requires a Commencement Order which will be brought forward shortly.

The legislation governing Parent's Leave is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.