Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2023
339. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if foster parents can avail of parental leave and benefit or parental leave where a newborn baby or child under stage age of two years is placed with a foster parent or family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5478/23]
View answerMy colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, has responsibility for both Parent’s Leave and Parental Leave. My Department has responsibility for payment of Parent's Benefit. There is no payment associated with Parental Leave.
Parent's Leave and Benefit are currently available for seven weeks to all eligible parents of children born or adopted from 1 November 2019. The schemes must be availed of within the first two years of the child’s life or adoption. In order to be eligible for Parent’s Leave or Benefit an applicant must be a relevant parent as defined in the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019. Foster carers do not come within this definition.
Any extension of Parent's Leave or Parental Leave would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
