The purpose of the Act is, inter alia, to provide for an extension of the entitlement to Parent’s Leave and Benefit for each qualifying parent from 2 weeks to 5 weeks, to extend the period in which Parent’s Leave and Benefit can be taken to not later than two years after the birth or adoptive placement of the child; to provide for Adoptive Leave and Benefit for male same sex couples (with consequential amendments to Paternity Leave and Benefit and Parent’s Leave and Benefit) and to enable adoptive couples to choose which parent may avail of Adoptive Leave.
Part 4 of the Act amends the Adoptive Benefit, Paternity Benefit, and Parent’s Benefit provisions in the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005 (as amended).