Increase in parental leave entitlements

On 1 September 2020 unpaid parental leave entitlement in Ireland was increased from 22 weeks to 26 weeks.

This means that eligible parents will be able to take 26 weeks' parental leave for each child:

• who is under 12 years of age;
• who is under 16 years of age where the child has a disability or long-term illness; or
• for up to two years after the date of the adoption order if the child was adopted between the ages of 10 and 12.

Parents who have already used their 22 weeks' parental leave may be able to benefit from the additional four weeks' leave from 1 September 2020 as long as their children still fall within the above thresholds.

As with the previous increase to parental leave entitlements in September 2019, employers should check their policies and procedures to take into account the increase from 1 September 2020 onwards.

For further information on this topic please contact Audrey Whyte at Lewis Silkin Ireland by telephone (+353 1566 9876) or email (audrey.whyte@lewissilkin.com). The Lewis Silkin Ireland website can be accessed at www.lewissilkin.com/en/ireland.