Paid Parental Leave on the Way

The Government in recent days has published the General Scheme of the Parental Leave and Benefit Bill 2019 (the “Bill”). The Bill includes provision for “parental benefit” in the first year of a child’s life and the Government intends to commence the scheme for such payments from November of this year. Parental benefit will be available for all new parents in employment or self-employment and will be paid by the State, in addition to existing maternity, paternity and adoptive leave entitlements. This initiative is the result of proposals developed by an interdepartmental working group regarding paid parental leave.