Plans for one year of paid parental leave

Social Protection Minister, Regina Doherty, wants to increase paid parental leave to 12 months, which would be shared between the mother and the father.

There is currently paid maternity leave of 26 weeks and paternity leave of two weeks.

Ms Doherty said that while the number of men taking up paternity leave entitlements has “fallen short” of what she would have liked, with 55% of fathers availing of it, she is confident this will increase.