It was announced on Father’s Day by Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, and Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar, that the Family Leave Bill will be introduced in the Dáil this week.
Under the Family Leave Bill, fathers will be entitled to two weeks’ paid leave within six months of the birth of the child. The payment will be €230 per week and will be paid by the Department of Social Protection, unless the new father’s employer tops up this payment.
It is expected that paid paternity leave will commence from September 2016.