Budget 2019: Parents will get 2 weeks’ extra parental leave from November of next year

There's some good news for parents in today's budget announcement.

Mums and dads will get two extra weeks of parental leave next year, it has been confirmed. The extra leave will come into effect from November of 2019 - just over a year from now. Known as Parental Benefit, it will be in addition to current maternity and paternity entitlements.

#Budget19 Minister @ReginaDo has announced the introduction of a new scheme:

Parental Benefit, which will be paid for two weeks to each parent, after the birth of a new child. This is in addition to the existing Maternity & Paternity Benefits #YourDEASP pic.twitter.com/aeu3CA4zD1 — welfare.ie (@welfare_ie) October 9, 2018

Introducing the new measure, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohue promised that it would in time eventually rise to seven weeks. Meanwhile, families will also benefit from a €25 increase in the Back To School payment in 2019. Before the announcement of the budget last night, Minister Donohue promised that it would "benefit families by looking to make childcare more affordable, looking to ensure that the cost of really important medical services get a little bit cheaper than it is at the moment." Other measures announced in today's budget include a raised threshold for the Affordable Childcare Scheme, an increase in the minimum wage and increased child benefit payments.

Child payments to increase by €2.20 per week for under 12s; €5.20 per week for over 12s. #HerBudget #Budget19

— HerFamily (@HerFamilydotie) October 9, 2018