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3.10.12 Where to apply
Parent's Benefit Section
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
McCarter's Road
Buncrana
Donegal
Ireland
F93 CH79

Tel: (01) 471 5898
Locall: 1890 690 690 (Note: the rates charged for using 1890 (Lo-call) numbers may vary)
Homepage: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/b321b1-parents-benefit/

3.11 ADOPTIVE LEAVE
Adoptive leave is available to an employed adopting mother, an employed sole male adopter, and an
employed adopting father where the adopting mother has died. The leave consists of a minimum of
24 weeks-unpaid leave ("Adoptive Leave") commencing on the day of placement of the child and an
additional 16 weeks’ unpaid leave ("Additional Adoptive Leave"). You must give at least 4 weeks’
notice to the employer prior to the date of placement. For additional adoptive leave at least 4 weeks’
notice must be given before the end of the twenty-four-week adoptive leave period. This additional
leave is optional. In the case of foreign adoptions, some or all of the 16 weeks’ additional leave may
be taken immediately before the placement date. From 30 January 2006 if the adopted child is
hospitalised, the period of leave or additional leave may be postponed, provided that the employer
agrees.

3.11.1 Before the Adoption
Adopting parents are entitled to paid time off work to attend preparation classes and pre-adoption
meetings with social workers or Health Service Executive (HSE) officials required during the
preadoption process.

3.11.2 During the Leave
All employment rights other than remuneration are preserved during the 24-weeks adoptive leave.
Employment rights during the 16-weeks additional adoptive leave will be frozen, i.e. the period of
employment before the leave will be regarded as continuous with the period of employment following
the leave. The employee has the right to return to work after the adoptive leave and additional leave.
An employee must give 4 weeks written notification to the employer before the end of the leave.

3.11.3 Social Insurance Benefit
You may also be entitled to social insurance benefit for adoptive leave paid by the Department of
Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and you should contact the Department in this regard.

3.12 JURY SERVICE
If you are called for jury service, you will be granted paid leave from work. You should advise a
Manager as soon as you know when you are required to attend court. Your jury service summons must
be given to a Manager. You must also submit evidence of attendance when the jury service has been
completed.

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