Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will consider extending the parental leave scheme past the existing 962 hours, in recognition of the challenges parents are facing with sourcing childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48172/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years. The Government is committed to supporting workers, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their child during their earliest years.

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’.

It should be noted that the legislation only sets out the minimum entitlement to parental leave. Depending on an individual’s contract of employment, they may have more extensive rights to parental leave, as employers have the option to offer more than the entitlement set out in the legislation.

Further measures have been taken to support working parents. As of August 2024, 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.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduced further important entitlements for workers, including the right to request flexible working for parents and carers, and leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12.

Ensuring high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is also a policy priority. Considerable investment has taken place in recent years to improve the resourcing, quality and availability of early learning and childcare. €1.37 billion was secured in budget 2025 for early learning and childcare which represents an increase of 24% or almost €266m on budget 2024.

The Department has a range of supports and funding schemes in place to support the delivery of early learning and childcare places. Services are independently operated and the decision on whether to take children until they are 12 months old is a matter for each provider.

First 5 is Ireland’s Whole-of-Government Strategy for babies, young children and their families. It has a pivotal focus on providing a broader range of options for parents to balance working and caring. The Strategy aims to support parents to be at home with their children for the whole of their first year. Research suggests that children benefit particularly from parental care in this period and the Strategy sets out this evidence in detail.

Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Family leave entitlements are 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.