Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1874. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the reason widowed parents are not entitled to any additional parental leave in recognition of the fact that they are parenting single handedly; if there are plans in place to review this in the interest of fairness and support for bereaved families, considering that many widowed parents face the full demands of raising children alone without the support of a second parent which is not acknowledged in current leave entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44656/25]

Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1882. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider amending Ireland’s parental leave legislation to address the disparity faced by one-parent families, whereby children in such households are effectively entitled to only half the parental leave available to children in two-parent households; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44800/25]

Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1884. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if his Department has examined schemes where single parents of newborn children can access the full leave entitlements of two-parent families as seen in other European countries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44829/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1874, 1882 and 1884 together.

There have been significant developments in the entitlements to family leaves for working families in recent years. The Government committed in the Programme for Government to supporting parents, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their baby during the first year.

Under the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019, working parents are entitled to nine weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child, as required by the EU Work Life Balance Directive.

It is important to note that the entitlement under the 2019 Act is for each parent in their own right and is not an allocation per family. The Act was drafted to take account of the broad complexion of family life, including one parent families, and allows for an entitlement for the spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of the parent. Parents do not have to cohabit to be eligible for the entitlement. However, the leave is non-transferable to ensure that fathers as well as mothers are supported in their caring roles and to support women's equal labour market participation. The principle of non-transferability is also required by the EU Work-Life Balance Directive because of the importance of ensuring that the provision of family leave does not serve to disadvantage mothers participating in the labour market.

Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis

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 Programme for Government sets out a commitment to examine the possible extension of parent's leave and benefit and additional flexibilities. Presently, the next National Strategy for Women and Girls is in development and will consider ways to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work.