James Geoghegan (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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591. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is considering any proposals as laid out in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25205/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has responsibility for family leaves, while my Department has responsibility for the associated benefits.

Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed parents who are on Paternity Leave from work and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is paid for two weeks at €289 per week, the same rate as Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit. Paternity benefit was paid to over 27,700 recipients in 2024 at a cost of approximately €15.4 million.

Any decision to extend the period of Paternity Leave is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

The new programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied.’ While the initial focus is on Parent’s Benefit, the development of this scheme will help to inform the thinking of a pay-related approach for other short-term income supports.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.