David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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418. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of individuals who have taken up paternity leave each year since its introduction, up to and including 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21725/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Paternity leave gives new parents 2 weeks off work. You can take time off if you are employed or self-employed, and can start the leave any time in the first 6 months after the baby's birth. You can also take paternity leave when you adopt a child. Your employer does not have to pay you during paternity leave, but you may qualify for Paternity Benefit. Paternity Benefit is a payment to employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI).

The number of individuals in receipt of Paternity Benefit each year from 2016 to 2022 is shown in the table below.

Table 1: Recipients of Paternity Benefit, by year