In This Section:

Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016

01 September, 2016

Eligible employees will be entitled to two weeks’ paternity leave to be taken in one continuous block following the birth or adoption of a child from 1 September 2016. Subject to the employee having made the appropriate PRSI contributions, paternity benefit of €230 per week (the same rate of pay for statutory maternity benefit in Ireland) is payable by the Department of Social Protection for the paternity leave period. Paternity benefit is paid for two consecutive weeks and must be claimed within 26 weeks of the date of birth or day of placement (if the child is adopted). In the case of multiple births, or where a person adopts two or more children at the same time, an employee shall only be entitled to one period of paternity leave in respect of the children concerned -

 

The Act applies to an employee who is considered to be a “relevant parent,” on or after 1 September 2016.

A "relevant parent" includes:

the child’s father, or
the spouse / civil partner / cohabitant of the child’s mother, or
the child’s sole male adopter, or
either parent of a donor-conceived child.
Same sex couples jointly adopting a child must choose one parent to be the “relevant parent”.

Contact Naill Murphy & Co if you require further information in this regard.