The Parental Leave Act, 1998, allows fathers and mothers to take unpaid leave to look after young children. You may take parental leave either as a single block of 14 weeks or, with your employer’s agreement, as smaller blocks, broken up over a period of time.
The Act also allows limited paid leave (‘force majeure’ leave), of up to 3 days in any 12 months, or up to 5 days in any 36 months, to let you deal with emergencies resulting from a family member’s injury or illness.
Parents who take parental leave may get a PRSI credit for each week taken. This makes sure that cover for social welfare benefits is kept up-to-date. Your employer should write to the EU/International Records Section (address below), confirming the number of weeks and exact dates of your parental leave.
For further information on PRSI credits for parental leave, contact:
EU/International Records
Department of Social Protection
McCarter's Road
Ardarvan
Buncrana
Co. Donegal
LoCall: 1890 690 690 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
+ 353 1 47 15898 (from Northern Ireland or overseas)
For more information on parental leave, contact:
The Equality Authority
2 Clonmel Street
Dublin 2
LoCall: 1890 245 545 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
+353 1 4173336 (from Northern Ireland or overseas)
Website: www.equality.ie
For information about employment rights and responsibilities contact:
The Dept of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
23 Kildare Street
Dublin 2
LoCall: 1890 220 222 (from the Republic of Ireland only)
+353 1 631 2121 (from Northern Ireland or overseas)
Website: www.entemp.ie