Parent’s Leave Entitlements

Following the recent passage of the Family Leave and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2021, with effect from 1 April 2021, the statutory entitlement to Parent’s Leave will increase from two weeks to five weeks and will be available to be taken during the first two years after birth/adoption.  

Parent’s Leave is available to parents of children born/adopted on or after 1 November 2019 and is not transferable between parents. 

Although the Department of Education does not pay teachers’ salaries during parent’s leave, Parent’s Benefit of €245 per week may be claimed by eligible parents, subject to DEASP rules.

Parent’s leave must be taken in a minimum block of seven days and the five available weeks do not have to be taken consecutively. Absences on parent’s leave are substitutable.

Pending the publication of a Circular from the Department and application form, teachers who wish to avail of parent’s leave should apply in writing to their board of management. Ordinarily six weeks’ notice will be required, but boards may waive this requirement.

The INTO continues to pursue full payment of salary to teachers availing of parent’s leave.