Paid paternity leave is welcome news for fathers

FINE Gael TD for Sligo- Leitrim, Tony Mc Loughlin, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, and the Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, that the Government is to provide fathers with two weeks of paid paternity leave.

He said: “The Paternity Bill has been formally published and will be introduced to the Dáil this coming Friday.

“This will be very welcome news for fathers in Sligo and will afford them the opportunity to be more involved at the earliest stages of a child’s development.

“In fact it will be beneficial for the whole family, as studies show that targeting investment in a child’s early years leads to better outcomes for both the child and wider society.

“When enacted, this legislation will allow new fathers in Sligo to start the combined package of paternity leave and paternity benefit, at any time within the first six months following birth. It will also apply to the fathers of newly adopted children.

“The Department of Social Protection will provide fathers in Sligo with paid paternity benefit of € 230 per week for the two weeks of Paternity Leave.

Deputy McLoughlin added: “Employers in Sligo will also have the option of providing a further top- up to the Dad’s regular salary if they so choose.”