51,000 fathers have taken up paternity leave benefit

MORE than 50,000 fathers have taken up paternity benefit since it was brought in two years ago, research has shown.

The benefit is paid out to employed and self-employed men who are on paternity leave from work.

The two-week payment, which is covered by PRSI, can be taken any time within the six-month period following the child’s birth or adoption placement.

A total of 51,409 men have availed of the payment, with 4,100 of these self-employed, from the Department of Employment and Social Protection since September 2016.

The current rate of the benefit is €240 per week, but this is set to increase to €245 per week from March 25 next year following changes announced in last month’s Budget.

Regina Doherty welcomed the level of uptake of the benefit from fathers. The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection said: ‘The Government recognises the importance of providing support for parents of young children and is very much aware that the first year in a child’s life is of particular importance.’

A new Parental Scheme Benefit is to be introduced late next year to give parents an additional two weeks of paid leave during the first year of their child’s life.

The rate of this benefit will also be €245 per week.

Ms Doherty added that the new scheme is designed to be ‘family-friendly and flexible’.

She said: ‘The first 12 months of life are incredibly formative for a child and the benefit of allowing parents’ greater time with a new baby will be beneficial to individual children, families and society as a whole.

‘I am particularly happy that, with both paternal leave and this new parental leave scheme, we are creating more opportunities for fathers to have the time to spend with their new arrivals as this greatly benefits both child and parent.’