👶 Parental Leave Guide

Maternity, paternity, parental, and parent's leave in Ireland — your complete rights

26 weeks

Maternity leave

2 weeks

Paternity leave

9 weeks

Parent's leave

26 weeks

Parental leave

🤰 Maternity

👨‍👧 Paternity

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent's Leave

👪 Parental Leave

📋 Practical Tips

Maternity Leave Entitlement

All employed women in Ireland are entitled to 26 weeks' maternity leave regardless of how long they've worked for their employer or how many hours they work per week. No minimum service requirement.

Type	Duration	Paid?	Notes
Basic maternity	26 weeks	State benefit (€274/week)	Must start at least 2 weeks before due date
Additional maternity	16 weeks	Unpaid	Must follow immediately after basic leave
Total possible	42 weeks	26 paid + 16 unpaid	Your job is protected for the full period

Maternity Benefit — What You Get

Maternity Benefit is paid by the Department of Social Protection at a standard rate of €274 per week for 26 weeks. You must have enough PRSI contributions (at least 39 weeks in the 12 months before leave, or 39 weeks in the relevant tax year).

Employer top-up: Many Irish employers "top up" maternity benefit to your full salary. This is not a legal requirement but is increasingly common, especially in multinationals and the public sector. Check your contract or employee handbook.

Notification Requirements

4 weeks before

Notify your employer

Written notice of intention to take maternity leave. Include expected start date. Provide a medical certificate confirming pregnancy and expected due date.

6 weeks before

Apply for Maternity Benefit

Apply to DSP using form MB10 (or online at mywelfare.ie). Your employer completes Part B of the form.

4 weeks before return

Notify return date

Give your employer at least 4 weeks' written notice of your intended return date.

⚠️ Protected rights: You cannot be dismissed for being pregnant or on maternity leave. If you are, this is automatically unfair dismissal. Your job (or a suitable alternative) must be available when you return.

Paternity Leave Entitlement

All new fathers (or partners of the birth mother) are entitled to 2 weeks' paternity leave. This applies to employed and self-employed people. Must be taken within the first 6 months after birth.

What	Details
Duration	2 consecutive weeks
Payment	Paternity Benefit: €274/week from DSP
Timing	Within first 26 weeks of birth/placement
Notice	4 weeks' written notice to employer
Who qualifies	Father of the child, spouse/partner of the mother, parent of donor-conceived child

Employer top-up: As with maternity, some employers top up paternity benefit to full salary. More common in larger companies and the public sector.

Parent's Leave (Not the Same as Parental!)

Each parent is entitled to 9 weeks' parent's leave for each child born or adopted on or after 1 November 2019. This is in addition to maternity, paternity, and parental leave.

What	Details
Duration	9 weeks per parent per child
Payment	Parent's Benefit: €274/week from DSP
Timing	Before child turns 2 (or within 2 years of adoption)
Flexibility	Can be taken in one block or as individual weeks
Notice	6 weeks' written notice to employer

Key point: Both parents each get 9 weeks — that's 18 weeks total per child. This leave is non-transferable between parents. Use it or lose it before the child turns 2.

Parental Leave

Each parent is entitled to 26 weeks' unpaid parental leave per child until the child turns 12 (or 16 if the child has a disability or long-term illness).

What	Details
Duration	26 weeks per parent per child
Payment	Unpaid (no state benefit)
Timing	Before child turns 12
Flexibility	Can be taken in blocks of minimum 6 weeks, or as individual days with employer agreement
Service required	1 year with current employer (or pro-rata after 3 months)

⚠️ Unpaid but protected: Your employment rights (including annual leave accrual) are preserved during parental leave. You're entitled to return to the same job or suitable alternative.

Practical Tips for Managing Leave

Whether you're taking leave or planning your return, preparation makes all the difference.

Before You Go

📋 Handover document: Create a detailed handover for your replacement. List ongoing projects, key contacts, deadlines, and where files are stored.

💰 Budget planning: If on state benefit only (€274/week), plan for reduced income. Calculate your net difference using our Pay Calculator.

📧 Out-of-office: Set up clear auto-reply with alternative contacts. Don't feel pressured to check emails on leave.

📞 Keep-in-Touch days: Agree with your employer if you want optional KIT days to stay connected. These are not legally required in Ireland but some employers offer them.

Returning to Work

🔄 Ease back in: Consider using parental leave or annual leave to create a phased return (e.g., 3 days/week initially). Many employers will agree to this.

🕐 Flexible working: You have the right to request flexible or remote working under the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

🤱 Breastfeeding: Employers must provide facilities and time off for breastfeeding/expressing for up to 2 years after birth (including reduced hours or breaks).

😔 If things have changed: If your role has been significantly altered or eliminated, you may have grounds for a complaint to the WRC. Document everything.