If an employee is benefitting from parental leave prior to the 2nd August 2022, this means that the birth occurred before the 2 August 2022, and thus the 4 months unpaid will apply. New parental leave entitlements will come in effect from births/adoption occurring from the 2nd August 2022.

An employee must be in employment with the same employer for a continuous period of at least twelve (12) months prior to be able to avail himself/herself of parental.

Out of the four months parental leave, the two months unpaid parental leave can be transferred from one parent to the other parent.

Two out of the 4 months of parental leave are paid at the same rate established for the sickness
benefit entitlement under the Social Security Act and must be taken in a staggered approach as
follows:

The 4 months of parental leave can be taken all at once, however:

-If the child is between 0 and 4 years old, only 4 weeks of the entitlement will be paid at the applicable
rate;
-If the child is between 4 and 6 years old, only 2 weeks of the entitlement will be paid at the applicable
rate;
-If the child is between 6 and 8 years old, only 2 weeks of the entitlement will be paid at the applicable
rate.

Yes, however only 1 month will be paid at the applicable rate, and the remaining shall be unpaid.

Carers’ leave means leave from work for workers in order to provide personal care or support to a relative, or to a person who lives in the same household as the worker, and who is in need of care or support for a serious medical reason. Every worker is entitled to 5 days of unpaid carers’ leave per year.