2098. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of providing an additional three weeks of parent’s benefit, the total annual cost for each year since it was introduced, in tabular form; the number of parent’s that availed of it in each year; the average duration of paid parent’s benefit; to provide a gender breakdown if available for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59018/26]

2099. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Social Protection the additional projected cost of doubling the current entitlement to parent’s benefit for lone parents from 9 weeks to 18; the estimated cost for an additional further three weeks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59019/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2098 and 2099 together.

Parent’s Benefit provides nine weeks paid leave to each parent during the first two year of a child’s life or following adoption. Government has provided over €123 million for the scheme in 2026.

The number of unique recipients who have availed of Parent’s Benefit since it's introduction in 2019 is set out in the table below, along with breakdown by gender, and expenditure.

Parent’s Benefit has been increased on an incremental basis from an initial two weeks entitlement in 2019 to the current nine week entitlement. The average duration of claims during this period is not maintained by the Department.

Extending the benefit by three weeks to twelve weeks per parent could result in an additional annual cost of over €35 million. It should be noted that these costings are based on the estimated 2026 annual expenditure figure and take up to date and are subject to change with emerging trends. My Department does not maintain data on the number of lone parent's claiming Parent's Benefit.

My colleague, the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality has policy and legal responsibility for Parent's Benefit, including matters relating to its duration. My Department has policy and legal responsibility for the associated benefit. Any changes to these schemes would have to be considered in that context while having regard to overall improvements to social welfare schemes and the sustainability of the Social Insurance Fund.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.