Can I take extended parental leave in Ireland?
Yes if you meet the service and notice rules — up to 26 weeks of unpaid leave per child. Under the Parental Leave Acts you can take up to 26 weeks per eligible child, before the child's 12th birthday. You generally need 1 year's continuous service, and you must give at least 6 weeks' written notice, signing a confirmation at least 4 weeks before. You can take it as one block, or two blocks of at least 6 weeks each with a 10-week gap; smaller chunks need the employer's agreement. Each parent has their own 26-week entitlement, with up to 14 weeks transferable if you both work for the same employer. It's fully unpaid. If the child has a disability, leave can run to the 16th birthday. In short: yes, 26 weeks unpaid per child, with notice.
📋 The rules
- Up to 26 weeks per child, before age 12
- Usually need 1 year's continuous service
- Give at least 6 weeks' written notice
- One block, or two of 6+ weeks with a 10-week gap
- Each parent has their own entitlement
🔓 Exceptions
- If the child is disabled, leave can run to age 16
- A child adopted aged 10–12: leave for up to 2 years after
- Part-time workers get a pro-rata entitlement
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The leave is fully unpaid — no statutory payment and no pension contributions during it — but you keep credited PRSI, accrue annual leave, and keep your public-holiday entitlements. An employer can postpone the leave once for up to 6 months but cannot refuse it if you qualify. Complaints go to the WRC within 6 months (extendable a further 6 for reasonable cause), and dismissal for taking parental leave is unfair dismissal. Beware a myth: "parental leave is paid like maternity leave" is false — it's entirely unpaid; people confuse it with parent's leave (9 weeks paid via Parent's Benefit in the child's first 2 years). To take it: give your employer 6 weeks' written notice and sign the confirmation document.
📎 Official sources
- Citizens Information — parental leave →
- Citizens Information — leave for parents →
- Citizens Information — parent's leave →
❓ Frequently asked
How much parental leave can I take?
You can take up to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave for each eligible child, to be used before the child's 12th birthday. Each parent has their own separate entitlement of 26 weeks. If you both work for the same employer, up to 14 weeks of the entitlement can be transferred between you.
Is parental leave paid?
No. Parental leave is entirely unpaid — there's no statutory payment and no pension contributions accrue during it. It's often confused with parent's leave, which is a separate entitlement of nine weeks paid through Parent's Benefit during the child's first two years. Parental leave protects your job but doesn't provide an income.
Do I qualify for parental leave?
You generally need one year's continuous service with your employer. With between three months and a year's service, you may get a pro-rata amount if the child is close to the age limit. The leave can be taken up to the child's 12th birthday, or up to 16 if the child has a disability or long-term illness.
How do I arrange it?
You must give your employer at least six weeks' written notice before the leave is due to start, and sign a confirmation document at least four weeks beforehand. You can take it as one continuous block, or as two separate blocks of at least six weeks each with a minimum ten-week gap between them.
Can my employer refuse it?
No, not if you qualify — but they can postpone it once, for up to six months, for a genuine business reason. If you meet the conditions, the leave can't be refused outright. If you're treated unfairly or dismissed for taking parental leave, you can bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission.
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