Paid Parental Leave

The Paid Parental Leave Scheme provides a government-funded entitlement for working parents. Parental Leave Pay will be available to working parents who meet the eligibility criteria. You will have access to Parental Leave if you are the primary carer of a child born or adopted from 1 January 2011. If you are eligible, you will be able to receive Parental Leave Pay at the National Minimum Wage, for up to 18 weeks. If you think you may be eligible, you will have the choice to receive either Parental Leave Pay or the Baby Bonus depending on which is the best financial decision for your family.

Introduction of the Paid Parental Leave Scheme

The Paid Parental Leave Scheme commenced from the 1st of January 2011 after a long political consultation process. The idea was to support working parents who take leave from their usual employment in order to start a family. The parent receiving the money has to have been gainfully employed prior to having the new child. For parents who weren’t previously employed, they may be entitled to the baby Bonus.