Expansion of Parents Leave & Benefit is a major step in supporting families – Feighan

The extension of parent’s leave from seven weeks to nine weeks will be a welcome relief to families across the country, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Frank Feighan, a father of two young children, said, “Fine Gael have increased parent’s leave to acknowledge the difficulties faced by families with young children.

“Under these new measures, you can now claim nine weeks’ parent’s leave if your child is under the age of two on August 1^st, 2024 or if your adopted child has been placed with your family less than two years on 1 August 2024.

“Fine Gael introduced this leave in 2019 with an original bill published by Deputies Charlie Flanagan and David Stanton and MEP Regina Doherty.

“It has been incrementally increased since and Minister Heather Humphreys has worked to ensure parent’s leave has been expanded from two weeks to nine weeks per parent. This is a major support for so many families so they can better balance work with family commitments.

“This measure will be available to both mothers and fathers and will apply to all future parents,” Deputy Feighan said.

“Parent’s benefit, worth €274 per week, will also increase from seven weeks to nine weeks for each parent if they qualify. Parent’s benefit is paid while you are on parent’s leave from work if you have enough PRSI contributions.

“There is no doubt that such a measure will have a positive impact on life for all families, especially those with newborn children.

“Evidence shows that children benefit from being cared for and spending time with their parents when they are very young.

“Parent’s leave also gives an opportunity for fathers to take this leave in addition to their 2-week paternity leave, to have a total of 11 weeks off to be involved in the earliest stages of their child’s development.

“Fine Gael knows parents are working hard, and we will continue to make life easier for families,” concluded Deputy Feighan.