Shay Brennan (Dublin Rathdown, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she has examined allowing parental leave entitlements to be transferred between parents who are employed by different employers; the considerations involved in such a policy change; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2830/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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There have been significant developments in entitlements for parents of working families in recent years

Under the Parental Leave Acts, 26 weeks unpaid leave can be taken by an employee who is a relevant parent to take care of a child. The upper age limit of the eligible child has been increased in 2019 to the age of 12 or of 16, where the child has a disability or long-term illness which allows a parent more time in which to avail of the extended leave entitlement. 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.

Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave. Where both parents work for the same employer and the employer agrees, one parent can transfer 14 weeks of their parental leave entitlement to the other parent.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 was enacted on 4 April 2023, and also introduces important entitlements for workers, including leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and the right to request flexible working for parents and carers. It transposes the Work-Life Balance Directive which specifically prevents the transfer of paid leave between parents in the interests of gender equality and of encouraging fathers as well as mothers to take such leave. Otherwise, there is a risk that only mothers would take the leave, potentially creating labour market disadvantages for them and that fathers would not be encouraged to take a greater share of their caring responsibilities.

The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's future commits to examining the extension of Parents Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The new National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025-2030 was published on the 18th of November 2025, and sets out a broad range of objectives aimed at reducing inequalities between men and women, including the disparities in caring responsibilities. The first Action Plan under the new Strategy is currently being developed and will include actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work. The first Action Plan is due to be published early in 2026. Any further changes to supports and family leave entitlements will be considered within this context.