Paid maternity and paternity leave will be extended by two weeks

Good news, everyone.

Paid maternity and paternity leave will be extended by two weeks. The government will soon offer two weeks extra paid leave for parents of children born or adopted from November 1 this year. It will apply for parents who are employed or self-employed during the child's first year. The new Parental Leave and Benefit bill will be introduced this week by Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty, and Minister of State with responsibility for Equality, Immigration and Integration David Stanton. It is expected that up to 60,000 new parents will benefit from the scheme. The Irish Times reports that almost 25,000 new fathers have availed of the paid paternity leave benefit scheme since its introduction in 2016. He said that he hoped all new parents would avail of the extra two weeks paid leave "in terms of the child building a relationship and a bond with both parents." Minister Doherty added that the bill would allow parents to spend more crucial time with their children during their first year, a period of "particular importance.” This comes after the government announced the extension of unpaid parental leave from 18 weeks to 22 weeks and an additional two weeks from September next year. At the time, Minister Stanton said: "The Government will continue to support parents by providing greater flexibility in achieving and managing a work life balance." The Parental Leave and Benefit bill will be brought to the Seanad and then the Dáil. It is expected to be passed by November 1.