This Bill is expected to become law on or before 1 November 2019 and will introduce paid parental leave for the first time.
Note that the employer does not have to pay the employee.
Provided an employee has made the requisite PRSI contributions, a relevant parent will be entitled to take two weeks' parent's leave within the first 52 weeks of a child's birth.
This will be paid by the State at the same rate as the current State Illness Benefit (€245 per week) – i.e. the parent's benefit. Significantly, the Bill does not oblige employers to pay employees while on parent's leave.
It will be up to each employer to decide whether they wish to top up an employee's parent's benefit and, if so, by how much.
