Paternity Leave in Ireland: Complete Guide for Employers & Employees

What is paternity leave?

Paternity leave gives new parents 2 weeks off work. You can take time off if you are employed or self-employed and can start the leave any time in the first 6 months after the baby’s birth. You can also take paternity leave when you adopt a child.

Usually, fathers take paternity leave. Paternity leave is also available to same-sex couples.

Your employer does not have to pay you during paternity leave, but you may qualify for Paternity Benefit.

Who counts as a “relevant parent”?

Under Irish law, a “relevant parent” is one of the following:

In the case of a birth:

• The father of the child
• The spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the child’s mother

Is paternity leave available for adoption, same-sex couples, and donor-conceived children?

Yes. In Ireland, paternity leave is available for adoption, same-sex couples, and donor-conceived children, provided the employee meets the definition of a “relevant parent” under the law.

Here’s how it works in each case:

Adoption

• For an adopted child, the relevant parent is the parent who is not the qualifying adopter for adoptive leave. This means one of you can take adoption leave and the other paternity leave. If you are adopting alone you can take paternity leave if you are not taking adoptive leave.

Same-sex couples

• Paternity leave is gender-neutral and applies equally to same-sex couples.
• In a female same-sex couple, the non-birth parent (spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the birth mother) is a relevant parent.
• In a male same-sex couple adopting a child, the partner not taking adoptive leave qualifies.
• The law focuses on parental role and legal relationship, not gender.

Donor-conceived children

• Paternity leave can apply to donor-conceived children.
• The spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the birth mother is treated as the relevant parent, even if they are not the biological parent.
• Biological connection is not required for entitlement.

How much paternity leave are fathers entitled to in Ireland?

In Ireland, fathers (and other qualifying parents) are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave.

Key details

• The entitlement is 2 consecutive weeks (it cannot be split).
• The leave must be taken within 26 weeks of the child’s birth or placement for adoption.
• It applies from day one of employment — there is no minimum service requirement.
• The leave is unpaid by the employer, but eligible employees can claim Paternity Benefit from the Department of Social Protection.

Can paternity leave be taken flexibly or split into separate weeks?

No. In Ireland, paternity leave cannot be taken flexibly or split.

How paternity leave must be taken

• It is a single block of 2 consecutive weeks.
• The two weeks must be taken together, not as separate weeks or individual days.
• It must be taken within 26 weeks of the child’s birth or placement for adoption.

What employers should know

• Employers cannot require an employee to split or delay the leave.
• Employers may agree additional flexibility (for example, allowing annual leave before or after), but this is outside the statutory entitlement.

When can paternity leave be taken, and what are the timing rules?

You can choose to take paternity leave at any time in the 26 weeks after the birth or adoption. You need to give your employer notice that you want to take paternity leave and specify the dates you plan to take. You must do this in writing at least 4 weeks before your leave.

You must provide a certificate from your partner’s doctor stating when your baby is due, or stating the baby’s actual date of birth if you apply for leave after the birth.

If you are adopting, you must provide a certificate of placement showing the date when the child was placed with you.

What happens if the baby is hospitalised or the due date changes?

In Ireland, the law allows some flexibility around paternity leave if circumstances change.

• If the baby is hospitalised, paternity leave can be postponed and taken later, once the baby comes home. However, it must still be taken within 26 weeks of the birth.
• If the due date changes or the baby is born earlier or later than expected, paternity leave is simply taken based on the actual date of birth, not the expected due date.
• The entitlement remains two consecutive weeks, and it still cannot be split.

What is paternity leave?

Paternity leave gives new parents 2 weeks off work. You can take time off if you are employed or self-employed and can start the leave any time in the first 6 months after the baby’s birth. You can also take paternity leave when you adopt a child.

Usually, fathers take paternity leave. Paternity leave is also available to same-sex couples.

Your employer does not have to pay you during paternity leave, but you may qualify for Paternity Benefit.

Who counts as a “relevant parent”?

Under Irish law, a “relevant parent” is one of the following:

In the case of a birth:

• The father of the child
• The spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the child’s mother

Is paternity leave available for adoption, same-sex couples, and donor-conceived children?

Yes. In Ireland, paternity leave is available for adoption, same-sex couples, and donor-conceived children, provided the employee meets the definition of a “relevant parent” under the law.

Here’s how it works in each case:

Adoption

• For an adopted child, the relevant parent is the parent who is not the qualifying adopter for adoptive leave. This means one of you can take adoption leave and the other paternity leave. If you are adopting alone you can take paternity leave if you are not taking adoptive leave.

Same-sex couples

• Paternity leave is gender-neutral and applies equally to same-sex couples.
• In a female same-sex couple, the non-birth parent (spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the birth mother) is a relevant parent.
• In a male same-sex couple adopting a child, the partner not taking adoptive leave qualifies.
• The law focuses on parental role and legal relationship, not gender.

Donor-conceived children

• Paternity leave can apply to donor-conceived children.
• The spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner of the birth mother is treated as the relevant parent, even if they are not the biological parent.
• Biological connection is not required for entitlement.

How much paternity leave are fathers entitled to in Ireland?

In Ireland, fathers (and other qualifying parents) are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave.

Key details

• The entitlement is 2 consecutive weeks (it cannot be split).
• The leave must be taken within 26 weeks of the child’s birth or placement for adoption.
• It applies from day one of employment — there is no minimum service requirement.
• The leave is unpaid by the employer, but eligible employees can claim Paternity Benefit from the Department of Social Protection.

Can paternity leave be taken flexibly or split into separate weeks?

No. In Ireland, paternity leave cannot be taken flexibly or split.

How paternity leave must be taken

• It is a single block of 2 consecutive weeks.
• The two weeks must be taken together, not as separate weeks or individual days.
• It must be taken within 26 weeks of the child’s birth or placement for adoption.

What employers should know

• Employers cannot require an employee to split or delay the leave.
• Employers may agree additional flexibility (for example, allowing annual leave before or after), but this is outside the statutory entitlement.

When can paternity leave be taken, and what are the timing rules?

You can choose to take paternity leave at any time in the 26 weeks after the birth or adoption. You need to give your employer notice that you want to take paternity leave and specify the dates you plan to take. You must do this in writing at least 4 weeks before your leave.

You must provide a certificate from your partner’s doctor stating when your baby is due, or stating the baby’s actual date of birth if you apply for leave after the birth.

If you are adopting, you must provide a certificate of placement showing the date when the child was placed with you.

What happens if the baby is hospitalised or the due date changes?

In Ireland, the law allows some flexibility around paternity leave if circumstances change.

• If the baby is hospitalised, paternity leave can be postponed and taken later, once the baby comes home. However, it must still be taken within 26 weeks of the birth.
• If the due date changes or the baby is born earlier or later than expected, paternity leave is simply taken based on the actual date of birth, not the expected due date.
• The entitlement remains two consecutive weeks, and it still cannot be split.