This table explains the differences between the types of leave for parents.
Leave | Who gets it? | How long? | Is it paid? |
Maternity leave | Female employees | 26 weeks and up to 16 unpaid weeks | Yes, Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks |
Adoptive leave | One parent of the adoptive couple, or a parent adopting alone | 24 weeks and up to 16 unpaid weeks | Yes, Adoptive Benefit is paid for 24 weeks |
Paternity leave | New parents of children under 6 months of age (usually the father or the partner of the mother, or in the case of adoption, the parent who is not taking adoptive leave) | 2 weeks | Yes, Paternity Benefit is paid for 2 weeks |
Parental leave | Parents and guardians of children under 12 | 26 weeks | No, it’s unpaid |
Parent’s leave | Parents of children under 2 years of age
Parents of adopted children in the first 2 years of the placement of the child |
5 weeks from April 2021 | Yes, Parent’s Benefit is paid for 5 weeks |
PARENTAL LEAVE & FORCE MAJEURE LEAVE
Parental Leave is a period of unpaid leave available to employees for the purpose of the care of children. It is provided under Parental Leave Acts 1998 and 2006 and the European Union (Parental Leave) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 81 of 2013).
An employee on parental leave is deemed for all purposes to be in employment at that time with the exception of remuneration and superannuation. The absence is therefore fully reckonable for all other purposes including seniority, access to the redeployment panel, progression on the incremental salary scale and notification regarding posts of responsibility.
An employee absent on parental leave may not engage in any type of paid employment as, under the terms of the Parental Leave Acts, the leave is specifically intended for the care of children.
Eligibility |
|
Duration of Leave |
|
Any further queries in relation to Parental Leave Entitlements, please contact: Lorraine Fox Human Resource Department
Share