Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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356. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 267 of 7 March 2023, if he will set out the rationale for the age thresholds of children in respect of parental leave entitlements; and the reasons that parents of children aged 17 and 18 years may not avail of this leave. [12591/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Parental Leave Amendment Act 2019 is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Parental leave legislation allows parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children, of up to 26 weeks’ for each eligible child before their 12th birthday (or 16th birthday if their child has a disability or long-term illness). Policy in respect of the Civil Service is in line with this legislation. Civil Servants can take parental leave until the day their child turns 13, or 16 for a child with a disability or long-term illness.

As set out in the previous PQ referenced by the Deputy, all guidance which has issued to all Civil Servants is available on the National Shared Services Office, HR shared services centre website and can be accessed here;

www.nsso.gov.ie/en/services/parental-leave/

More generally in relation to leave issues, I would note that there are a range of leave options that can be applied for by all civil servants including work-sharing, shorter working year, domestic leave, career breaks and where appropriate carer's leave. The approval of applications for such leave are a matter for the relevant employer.