The Parental Leave Act, 1998, as amended, allows fathers and mothers to take unpaid leave to look after young children. You may take parental leave either as a single block of 18 weeks or, with your employer’s agreement, as smaller blocks, broken up over a period of time.
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 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:
Records Section
Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
McCarters Road
Buncrana
Co. Donegal.
Telephone: (01) 471 5898
LoCall: 1890 690 690
If you are calling from outside the Republic of Ireland please call +353 1 471 5898.
For more information on parental leave, contact:
Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
16 - 22 Green Street
Dublin 7
Telephone: (01) 858 9601
LoCall: 1890 245 545
If you are calling from outside the Republic of Ireland please call +353 1 858 9601
Website: http://www.ihrec.ie/
For information about employment rights and responsibilities contact:
Information and Customer Service
Workplace Relations Commission
O'Brien Road
Carlow
Telephone: (059) 917 8990
LoCall: 1890 80 80 90
If you are calling from outside the Republic of Ireland please call +353 59 917 8990.
Website: https://www.djei.ie/en/
Note:
The rates charged for using 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers.