‘Enhanced’ parental leave part of family aid reforms

A raft of new proposals to “enhance” parental leave, extend free pre-school education, and “reform” State aid to young families are expected to be announced by the Government today.

The issues, which will form part of a series of multi-year proposals to overhaul the current Early Years Support Service, will be outlined in a 120-page report published by Children’s Minister Dr James Reilly.

Under the proposals, it is expected that parental leave will be enhanced, with previous suggestions this will include doubling the amount of time off a woman can take after giving birth, plus the provision of extra weeks off if the time is shared with a partner.

An extension of Early Years education services will also be outlined, although it was unclear last night whether a long-promised second free pre-school education year will form part of these recommendations.

Further changes are believed to relate to a “simplification” of existing State financial aid to young families, with sources who have seen the report saying this will see four funding streams becoming one subsidy.

The Government is expected to stress the changes are part of proposals being put forward by the Department of Children to stretch over the coming years aimed at assisting parents to choose whether or not to get back to work quickly.

Ministers are also expected to argue that the system overhaul will help improve affordability, quality and accessibility to vital Early Years services.

While the proposed changes are costed, officials last night declined to give specifics and to say whether the changes will see some families losing out.

The proposals are due to be outlined by Dr Reilly at a Government event in Lissadell, Co Sligo, today, though they have already gained significant media attention in recent months, due to the ongoing behind-the-scenes work on the reforms.

In April, the Irish Examiner revealed that mothers could be allowed to double the amount of leave they take after having a baby and receive extra weeks off providing they agree to split the time at home with their partner.

Currently, a mother receives 26 weeks’ paid maternity leave, while a father is not legally entitled to any leave, and only gets it at the discretion of an employer.