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MORE THAN 51,000 fathers have taken paternity leave since the scene was introduced in September 2016.
Paternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed people who are on paternity leave from work and covered by PRSI.
The initiative allows fathers to take two weeks off within six months of the birth of their child, receiving a payment of €240 per week. Following Budget 2019, this will increase to €245 per week from the week beginning 25 March 2019.
New figures released by the Department of Social Protection show that 51,409 fathers have been awarded leave since the scheme began in September 2016.
In total, 4,100 self-employed men have been given leave since the scheme was introduced.
In most months in 2018, 1,900 or more fathers were granted paternity leave.
So far in 2018, August saw the most amount of fathers taking paternity leave, at a total of 2,549.
Meanwhile, June saw the lowest figure, with 1,584 fathers taking paternity leave.
Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty has welcomed the uptake of Paternity Benefit by working families.
“I am delighted that working parents, both employed and self-employed, are availing of their PRSI to get two weeks paid Paternity Benefit following the birth or adoption of their baby,” Doherty said.
“The government recognises the importance of providing support for parents of young children and is very much aware that the first year in a child’s life is of particular importance,” she said.
Extended parental leave
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe announced during the Budget that parents are to receive two extra weeks’ paid leave to every parent of a child in their first year.
The new paid leave scheme was announced in this afternoon’s Budget and will take effect from November 2019.
Donohoe said that it is the government’s intention to “increase this to seven extra weeks over time”.
Doherty said the scheme is “designed to be family-friendly and flexible”.
“Parents will be able to take the new paid leave any time – and at the same time if they wish to do so – during their child’s first year. The first 12 months of life are incredibly formative for a child and the benefit of allowing parents’ greater time with a new baby will be beneficial to individual children, families and society as a whole,” Doherty said.
“I am particularly happy that, with both paternal leave and this new parental leave scheme, we are creating more opportunities for fathers to have the time to spend with their new arrivals as this greatly benefits both child and parent.”
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Give parents the option to split the entire maternity and paternity leave. It’s the only way to equality here unless you keep increasing paternity leave up to 26 weeks.
@Stuart: women need maternity leave because they carry the baby for 9 months and then give birth to it. So unless the roles are reversed in the future there will never be equality in regards to maternity/paternity
@niamh ryan: it doesn’t take 9 months (or half that) to recover from giving birth (if all goes well). The majority of maternity leave is about caring for the child not recovering from giving birth.
To remove the remaining pay gap equal leave has to be given to have woman on the same playing field as men
@cooperguy: paid maternity leave is six months not 9. A lot of births are traumatic ending in surgery. Even if a c section isn’t needed there is a list of complications that can happen during and post birth. I would be happy for paternity leave being equal to maternity leave. But taking it away from the mother to give to the father is a step backwards
@niamh ryan: in nz they let you split it between the parents. My husband took 4 months after my 6 months leave and it gave him time to bond with our daughter and appreciate how much work goes into minding a small child. Families should have the freedom to decide what’s right for them.
@Clare Reynolds: yes and that’s great because you had six months. Here the maternity leave is 6 months. 2 weeks have to be taken before the birth meaning if you split the 6 months the woman would go back to less than 3 months after giving birthday
@niamh ryan: No one is saying FORCE people to split it, they’re saying give people the OPTION.
@Tricia G: well said. It would be a traumatic birth that takes 6 months to recover. Some families where the woman is the main bread winner means that she has to go back before 6 months and the child goes into some sort of care when there’s a perfectly willing father to do it
Paternity leave should be the same length as the mother’s maternity leave. In Germany both parents are entitled to the same amount of maternity leave, which is mandatory, and additional paid parental leave of up to 24 months. While we continue to live in the dark ages!!
@Simon Connolly: and would we pay more taxes to cover all the paternity leave? I doubt it.
@prop joe: Usual response…oe we pay enough tax as it is…how about actually receiving something in return for our taxes for once!! A patronising two weeks off work when you’re trying to raise a newborn is a joke..if needs be copying the German system so we can budget for it would be a positive step..
@Simon Connolly: 240 a week wouldn’t even come close to covering my mortgage. Sure, you can take the hit for a few weeks, but unless you get all the other social welfare benefits, most people wouldn’t be able to afford any more time off.
Well that’s nice of them!! I’m a stay at home dad and have got absolutely nothing from the day she was born!!
@Steve T: your entitled to get it if your employed and cannot stay at home
@Steve T: PRSI is social Insurance. If you don’t pay in, you cant be covered. Same as any other insurance.
The point is when she was born the money I made wouldn’t cover child care and other expenses, it works out better for me to stay at home and look after the little one! However I have no money coming in to call my own other than claim on the missus tax.
Still only 2 weeks of a pittance for the self employed dads out here!
Why wouldn’t you take it if you’re entitled to it.
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: well, say for example your Net take home pay is €650/week and your employer doesn’t pay the shortfall – by taking the leave you are down net €800 that month – most would not be able to afford to take a hit like that esp given they just had a child..
@Sean Baylon: You’ll always make the money back somehow. Time with your kids is irreplaceable.
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: tell that to your bank when you can’t pay your mortgage that month – “do you take time with my kids in credit for real money?”
‘August saw the most amount of fathers taking paternity leave’. A lot of hubbies getting once a year Christmas sex :)
@MacConchra: People say 9 months, it’s actually 40 weeks. Meaning end Sept, beginning of Aug.
Parental leave in Germany is 14 months an can be split between the parents as you like. Payment is 300 – 1800 Euro per month according to your previous income
‘August saw the most amount of fathers taking paternity leave’. A lot of hubbies getting once a year, Christmas sex :)
@MacConchra:
Or office party indiscretions ……. ?
Insurence companys ripping people off for years
have your say