Paid parental leave and benefits have been extended to seven weeks.
From July 1st, each parent can avail of up to seven weeks of leave with financial support from the State.
This applies to both parents amd is up from the current limit of five weeks
Parent's Leave and Benefit is available to anyone with a child under two years of age, or who has adopted a child within the last two years
The take-up of Parents Leave and Benefit has increased three-fold since 2020.
In 2021, 51,400 parents were supported - compared to just 16,700 in 2020.
Since the start of this year, the total number of applications has reached over 28,000.
There are also plans to further extend the scheme to nine weeks, in line with the Work Life Balance Directive.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says: "I believe strongly that the first few weeks and months spent with a new-born son or daughter is so important.
"Today's measure will see the number of weeks of paid leave each parent can take increase from five to seven.
"I’m committed to working closely with my colleague, Minister Roderic O’Gorman, in delivering further increases in this support.
"Because by doing so, we will ensure that mothers and fathers who experience that special occasion of welcoming their child into the world, will know that their State supports them."
Parent's Benefit is paid at a rate of €250 a week - the same rate as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive Benefit.
Seven weeks payment would represent a total of €1,750 per parent.
