Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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598. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether there is discretion within her Department to approve special leave with pay for a person who has had a child through surrogacy in the absence of any statutory maternity leave provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37364/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Leave entitlements for public servants, including teachers, are determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. Under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998, the Minister for Education, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, is authorised to determine the terms and conditions of employment for teachers employed in approved teaching posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas.

Currently, as there is no legislative entitlement to surrogacy leave in Ireland, there is no overarching civil service or public sector policy pertaining to leave entitlements for surrogate parents.

The recognition of surrogacy is a matter for Government as a whole, and is not within the remit of my Department.