If you are wondering what are the types of leaves in Ireland. Understanding them and the details of the Acts can be challenging. We have focused on the main points of each leave, to help you understand your obligations and employee’s rights.

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The statutory paternity leave in Ireland provides benefits for new parents (other than the birth mother) following the birth or adoption of a child. The Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016 provides for statutory paternity leave in Ireland of 2 weeks. An employee can start paternity leave at any time within the first 6 months following the birth or adoption placement.

Parental Leave is for the sole purpose of taking care of the child for whom the leave is being taken. It entitles each parent to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave. In general, the employee must have one year’s continuous employment with the Company to be entitled for parental leave. This leave is non-transferable, unless both parents work for the same Employer. Parents can take this leave until their child is 12 years old. It can be taken continuously or in agreed segments that consist in weeks, days and hours with the Employers agreement.

It entitles an employee to avail of unpaid leave to take care of another person who needs care on a full-time basis. The minimum leave is 13 weeks, and maximum is 104 weeks.

All employees, including casual workers, who become pregnant are entitled to receive to maternity leave irrespective of how long they have been employed in the company. So, how long is maternity leave in Ireland?

The employee will be entitled to 26 weeks of paid leave from the State, in addition to 16 weeks of unpaid leave (optional). According to the Maternity Protection (Amended) Act, 2014, the mother must take a minimum of two weeks prior to the birth, and at least four weeks after the birth, of the child.

This will allow new parents to take two weeks of paid leave within the first year of the child’s life. The government have stated that they are aiming to extend this to seven weeks by 2021. This has come into effect since 1^st November 2019. This leave entitles parents to two weeks paid leave (from the state).

• A parent of the child
• A spouse, civil partner, or cohabitant of the parent of the child
• A parent of a donor-conceived child as provided for under section 5 of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015
• The adopting parent or parents of a child
• The spouse or civil partner of the adopting parent of the child (if the parents have not adopted the child together).

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