Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1380.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of introducing a parental leave benefit of €300 a week paid to parents availing of parental leave; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32959/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Parental Leave allows parents to take 26 weeks unpaid leave for each eligible child before their twelfth birthday. My colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth holds responsibility for Parental Leave. There is no associated benefit payable with Parental Leave.

It is not known how many people avail of Parental Leave and therefore it is not possible to estimate the cost of introducing a €300 weekly payment for people availing of the leave.

There is a separate scheme called Parent's Leave which is also the responsibility of Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. However, there is an associated benefit payment for which I have responsibility.

Parent's Leave and Benefit are currently available for seven weeks to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019 and must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption. Parent’s Benefit is paid at €274 per week - the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefits.

Budget 2024 provided for the number of weeks of Parent's Leave and Benefit available to each eligible parent to be increased from seven weeks to nine weeks from August 2024. The estimated cost of this increase in Parent's Benefit is €10.3 million in 2024 and the overall estimated cost for a full year is €25.6 million.

Any decision regarding the introduction of Parental Benefit would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1383.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of increasing carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit to €325 a week. [32962/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The estimated full year cost of increasing Carer's Allowance to €325 a week is €270.7 million. This costing includes adjusting the different rates currently paid to those under 66 years (€248/per week for one caree etc.), and those over 66 years (€286/week for one caree etc.) and includes relevant adjustment of half-rate Carers Allowance. The estimated cost of increasing Carer's Benefit to €325 a week is €14.8 million.

The total to bring both Carer's Allowance and Carer's Benefit to €325 per week is €285.5million.

This costing is based on the estimated average number of recipients in 2024, and is subject to change in light of emerging trends and subsequent revision of the estimated number of recipients.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1384.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full year cost of providing a statutory payment of €350 for employees who avail of the five unpaid leave days for medical care purposes legislated for under the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Act 2023. [32963/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is not a matter for the Department of Social Protection. The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment is responsible for the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.