Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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515. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the extension of parents’ benefit from five to seven weeks will take effect; the number of parents who have availed of parents’ benefit to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38608/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

Following the commencement of the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021, an additional three weeks of paid Parent's Leave is available to each parent, and the period in which the leave can be taken is extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.

Budget 2022 provided for Parent’s Leave and Benefit to be extended from 5 weeks for each parent to 7 weeks.  This extension came into effect on the 1st of July.

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 with their parents for fewer than two years at that point.  

Parent’s Benefit is currently paid at €250 a week.  The Parent’s Benefit scheme is family-friendly and flexible, allowing parents to take one week of leave at a time or for a consecutive period.

Since the introduction of the scheme, up to the end of June this year, my Department has awarded over 100,000 Parent's Benefit claims at a cost in excess of €65 million.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.