Government will not oppose bill to extend unpaid parental leave

The Government will consider fresh proposals to extend unpaid parental leave to 26 weeks, which could help parents juggling care for babies and workplace commitments.

Social Democrats TDs brought the Parental Leave Bill before the Dáil yesterday, saying it would allow parents take a total of six months unpaid leave from work without their rights being affected.

The current rules allow 18 weeks unpaid leave per child aged up to eight years of age.