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Employment and Social Protection (DEASP) for Parent’s Benefit at least 6 weeks before you
intend to take parent’s leave.

Please note that your employer does not have to pay you while you are on parent’s leave,
although some employers may ‘top-up’ your parent’s leave. If you qualify for Parent’s Benefit,
you will get €245 each

3.9.1 What is the difference between parental leave and parent’s leave?

Parental leave entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after
their children. Currently both parents can take up to 22 weeks parental leave and from 1
September 2020, this will increase to 26 weeks. You can get more information in our
document on parental leave.

Parent’s leave is specifically for parents during the child’s first year.

Paternity leave is specifically for new parents (other than the mother) in their child’s first 6
months.

Other statutory entitlements available for parents are maternity leave and adoptive leave.

This table explains the differences between the types of leave for parents.

Leave Who gets it? How long? Is it paid?

26 weeks and up Yes, Maternity
Maternity to 16 unpaid Benefit is paid for 26
leave Female employees
weeks weeks

24 weeks and up Yes, Adoptive
Adoptive Adoptive mothers, Men adopting to 16 unpaid Benefit is paid for 24
leave alone
weeks weeks

New parents of children under 6 Yes, Paternity
Paternity
leave months of age (but not the 2 weeks Benefit is paid for 2
mother of the child) weeks

Parental Parents and guardians of children 22 weeks No, it’s unpaid
leave under 12

Parent’s Parents of children under 1 year of Yes, Parent’s Benefit
leave age (or in first year of adoption) 2 weeks is paid for 2 weeks

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