O’Dowd encourages dads to get leave

FINE Gael TD for Louth Fergus O’Dowd is encouraging prospective parents in Louth to sign up for the Paternity Benefit scheme.

Mr O’Dowd said “A national awareness campaign was launched on Tuesday, urging prospective parents in Louth and across the country to register for Paternity Benefit and explaining how to apply. I have put a short information video up on my facebook for anyone interested in the scheme.

‘Paternity Benefit becomes available on September 1 and will be paid at a rate of €230 a week for two weeks, to both employees and the self-employed.

‘It’s really simple for prospective parents in Louth to apply. Fathers in the county, who fulfil the PRSI requirements, are eligible for Paternity Benefit when they take two weeks of Paternity Leave at any time within the first 26 weeks of their child’s life, or following adoption.

‘All the information on how to apply for Paternity Leave, and how to get your Public Service Card, is available at www.welfare.- ie/paternitybenefit

“This is a ground-breaking measure, which meets the commitment made in Budget 2016 and in Fine Gael’s Election Manifesto. It is great news for fathers in our county and will afford them the opportunity to be more involved at the earliest stages of a child’s development.

I believe this is another step in the right direction and I will be campaigning for parental leave to be extended for parents in Louth and cutting the cost of childcare’.