Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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380. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what leave will be available to public sector staff in the education sector who have a child through surrogacy in July 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9375/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.