Page 24 - COBH EDITION 2nd NOVEMBER DIGITAL VERSION

Over 6,500 Cork Fathers Received Paid Paternity Benefit to Date -
Minister David Stanton
Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State at the Department of Justice, David Stanton has
welcomed the high numbers of Cork fathers availing of paid paternity leave. Since its intro-
duction, a total of 6,584 fathers in the Cork area have availed of the Paternity Benefit scheme,
which allows for two weeks of paid paternity leave.
Minister Stanton said: “The current rate of Paternity Benefit is €240 per week but this was
increased by Budget 2019. This means that from the week beginning 25 March 2019 the pay-
ment will increase to €245 per week. I hope this increase will encourage even more fathers
to avail of this two week long benefit so they can take time off work and be more involved in
their child’s life.
“It is great to hear that there has been good take up of the scheme so far, with over 51,000
Paternity Benefit claims being awarded across the country since the scheme came in on the 1st
September 2016. This includes some 4,100 self-employed people who are also eligible. Eligibil-
ity for Paternity Benefit is determined based on PRSI contributions.
“Fathers who fulfil the PRSI requirements are eligible for Paternity Benefit when they take two
weeks of paternity leave at any time within the first 26 weeks of their child’s life, or following
adoption. This is in recognition of the importance of providing support for parents of young
children particularly in the child’s first year. Giving fathers more time with their child, benefits
the child, the father and the whole family.

“I would encourage all prospective fathers to sign up for Paternity Benefit and avail of two
weeks of paid paternity leave. The application process itself is very straightforward but all
applicants will require a Public Services Card. Employees will also need to give their employer
four weeks’ notice to qualify for the two weeks’ leave. All the information on how to apply
for paternity leave, and how to get your Public Services Card, is available at www.welfare.ie/
paternitybenefit.
“Paid paternity leave was a key commitment in Fine Gael’s manifesto in advance of the last
election as part of our overall efforts to support parents at work and make childcare more af-
fordable. A new parental benefit scheme will also be introduced in late 2019 once the neces-
sary legislation has been approved. This will allow all parents, in the first year of a child’s life,
to access an additional two weeks of paid leave at the rate of €245 per week.
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THANK YOU FROM HAULBOWLINE THEATRE GROUP
Thank you to everyone who attended, helped organise and took part in our “A Night of
Remembrance” production yesterday. A special world of gratitude must go to the East Cork
Choral Society for joining with us to remember all those who lost their lives and the many who
were injured in World War I.
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