Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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297. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department has carried out any research on aligning Ireland’s family leave options with those of other EU countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25058/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Family leave entitlements have increased significantly over the past years. Most recently, Parent's Leave has been extended to 9 weeks per parent of any child under two, in line with the requirements of the EU Work Life Balance Directive. The Directive provides for a minimum entitlement of 14 weeks maternity benefit, 10 days of paternity leave, and two months of non-transferable parent’s leave for each parent. The Directive was transposed by the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2023, which also included an entitlement to 5 day fully paid Domestic Violence Leave - a first for an EU country to be introduced.

Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families and also mindful of the impact of the leaves on workplaces. The entitlements available in EU and other countries are considered as part of the policy process for developing proposals for any additional or adjusted family leave.