Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

263. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of introducing a mechanism whereby parents can transfer four weeks parental leave and benefit per parent to grandparents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45954/24]

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

The range of leaves available to parents: Maternity, Paternity, and Parent’s Leaves are the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Any decision regarding the transfer of that leave to grandparent would be a matter for that Minister. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for the associated benefit payments.

Maternity, Paternity, and Parent’s Benefit are payments made to parents who are on the corresponding leave from work or who are self-employed and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. Budget 2025 increased the rate of each benefit to €289 per week.

Maternity Benefit is payable for 26 weeks with two weeks minimum to be taken before the due date of birth of the child and the remainder from the date of birth. Mothers can also avail of an additional 16 unpaid weeks commencing immediately after the end of their Maternity Leave.

Paternity Benefit is payable for two weeks within the first 26 weeks following the birth of the child.

Parent’s Benefit is payable to each parent for nine weeks and it can be taken in nine consecutive weeks or separately before the child’s second birthday.

This brings the paid leaves available to parents to 46 weeks. If the mother avails of the additional 16 weeks of unpaid Maternity Leave, the leaves available cover 62 weeks.

These leaves aim to support parents at a crucial time for the development of their relationship with their child.

Additionally, each of these leaves must comply with the European Work Life Balance Directive which provides for a minimum of 14 weeks maternity benefit, 10 days of paternity leave, and two months of non-transferable parent’s leave for each parent. The Directive aims to promote gender equality in the care of children and in the workplace and transferring four weeks of leave to grandparents would impact this commitment. It would also impact Ireland’s compliance to the Work Life Balance Directive.

Simply transferring leave and benefit entitlement to grandparents would not incur obvious additional costs in relation to the payment benefits.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.