Parents are set to benefit from an extra three weeks of paid parental leave and benefit after the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021 passed all stages in the Oireachtas this week.

The bill extends the period in which the leave can be taken to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. It is non-transferrable between parents.

The additional three weeks of leave is available to employees and the self-employed in respect of new babies born or children adopted after 1 November 2019.

The associated benefit will be paid at the same rate as maternity, paternity, and adoptive benefits.

Sharing of childcare

The bill also gives adoptive parents more flexibility to decide which parent will avail of adoptive leave and benefit. It also addresses access to adoptive leave and benefit by male same-sex couples.

The legislation also provides for an increase in the number of ordinary members of the board of the Child and Family Agency, from seven members to nine.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman (pictured), welcomed the passing of the bill, saying that COVID-19 had had a serious impact on working parents, especially those who had had children during the pandemic.

“An important facet of parent’s leave is to encourage the sharing of childcare and I hope that this additional period of leave will support and encourage fathers in taking a more prominent role in the care of their young child,” he said.

The bill will be enacted after it is signed into law by the President.