Working parents in Ireland are to be given an extra three weeks’ paid leave by the Irish government.
This will be backdated to apply to any child born after 1 November 2019 in order to recognise the particular challenges that parents have faced during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.
Working parents were previously entitled to two weeks paid leave, paid at €245 (£222) per week. The time in which employees are able to take the leave has also been extended from one year to two.
Parents’ leave is different to parental leave, which entitles employees to take up to 22 weeks unpaid leave in order to care for their children
Roderic O’Gorman, minister for children, disability, equality and integration, said: “This introduction is to recognise the pressures that working parents have gone through during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) crisis.”