Parents of children aged under two can claim extended State benefits to support them in spending more time with their families.
The weekly Parent’s Benefit payment of €250 was previously capped at five weeks, but can now be claimed for a total of seven weeks.
It is also available to parents who have adopted a child within the past two years, but those in receipt must have a required number of PRSI contributions.
The Government has expanded the length of the financial support in response to the EU Work Life Balance Directive, which states the payment should be extended further to nine weeks next summer.
More than 51,000 parents – mothers and fathers – availed of the benefit last year, a three-fold increase on the total in 2020.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said the scheme would enable tens of thousands of new parents to take time away from work with some financial assistance.
“Welcoming a child into the world is one of the most important moments in a parent’s life,” he said. “We want to ensure that new parents are supported to spend quality time with their babies in those first weeks and months, and be there to share special bonding moments.”