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ARTICLE · 12 APRIL 2021

Changes To Family Leave Entitlements Introduced In Ireland

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New family leave provisions in Ireland give both new parents an additional three weeks' paid leave

IrelandEmployment and HR
Linda Hynes (Lewis Silkin LLP)
Linda Hynes (Lewis Silkin LLP)

New family leave provisions in Ireland give both new parents an additional three weeks' paid leave. Adopting couples can now choose which parent takes adoption leave, with paternity leave and benefit available for the other parent.

On 27 March 2021, changes to parent's leave and adoptive leave announced in Budget 2021 were signed into law and came into force on 1 April 2021.

The Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 provides for: 

  • an additional three weeks' paid parent's leave and benefit for each parent, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child; 
  • all adopting couples to be able to choose which parent takes adoption leave, including male same-sex couples who were previously precluded due to an anomaly in the legislation; 

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