James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46937/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to seven weeks of paid Parent's Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for Parent's Leave with my Department paying the associated Parent's Benefit.

It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family.

Under the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, two months of Parent's Leave cannot be transferable between parents. This recognises the importance of equality between men and women in respect of labour market opportunities and the importance of fathers bringing up their children. It should encourage an increase in the number of men taking Parent's Leave.

Any proposal to extend Parent’s Leave for lone parents would be a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Equality, Children, Disability, Integration and Youth.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.