77. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to review the unfair situation where parents working in private industry are limited to parental leave to the age of 12 for their child, compared to age 16 for parents working in the public service. [65957/26]

There have been significant developments in entitlements for working parents and families in recent years.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Parental Leave Acts, employees are entitled to 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave for each eligible child. Parental leave may be taken until a child reaches 12 years of age, or until 16 years of age where the child has a disability or long-term illness.

These age thresholds are the minimum statutory entitlements established in legislation. There is no barrier preventing employers from increasing the age of the child for which parental leave can be taken or to increasing the amount of leave. The decision is exclusively a matter for employers.

Depending on an individual's contract of employment, they may have more extensive rights, as employers may provide an entitlement in excess of the statutory minimum, as is the case in the Civil Service where parents can avail of parental leave until the child turns 16. The HSE similarly allows parents to take parental leave for children up to 16.

Both parents have an equal and separate entitlement to parental leave. Where both parents work for the same employer, and where the employer agrees, one parent may transfer up to 14 weeks of their parental leave entitlement to the other parent.

In addition to unpaid parental leave, the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 provides for nine weeks of paid Parent's Leave for each relevant parent, to be taken within the first two years following the birth or adoption of a child.

The Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 introduced further supports for working families, including leave for medical care purposes and the right for parents and carers to request flexible working arrangements.

The Programme for Government - Securing Ireland's Future - commits to examining the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit and additional flexibilities. The National Strategy for Women and Girls 2025–2030 sets out objectives aimed at reducing inequalities, including disparities in caring responsibilities. Its first Action Plan was published on 5th August and includes actions to support working families in balancing the competing demands of family and work.

Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they remain effective and responsive to the needs of families, while taking account of their impact on workplaces.