However, according to the Irish Independent, the Coalition have a plan to help working parents that involves six months paid paternal leave after the birth of their child.
Understanding just how important it is for parents to be with their child during the first year of life, the report states: "In line with evidence in respect of children under one, the proposal is to increase parental choice to remain as the primary care-giver of their child in the first year of life and to provide as much support as possible to the developing relationship between the parents and the child. The proposal is for the conversion of existing unpaid maternity leave to paid parental leave with the option for some sharing of the additional paid element between both parents."
The six months paid leave will be in addition to maternity benefit and will certainly help middle-income families.
According to the report: "The scheme would provide for additional weeks of paid benefit for mothers and fathers in addition to, and to follow consecutively, existing maternity leave provision. It would include a minimum additional amount of paid leave/benefit for mothers (an extension of the existing maternity leave scheme) as well as additional weeks to be taken by either parent. The recommendation is that this leave would be increased incrementally over time to provide for as close as possible to one year of parental care to children in the first year of life, obviating the need for non-parental paid childcare in that period."
Unfortunately, it is believed that it will take a decade to implement in full, building up from one month to six months over time. However, the childcare report, which was drawn up by Social Welfare Minister Joan Burton, will see paternity benefit of either one or two weeks included in Budget 2016 this October.
"Getting it started is the key thing. Once you get it off the ground, then you have to finish it. A 10-year plan is a bit conservative but it's designed not to frighten the horses. You can do it faster once it's started," explains a Government source.
If this does come to pass then Ireland will be brought in line with other European countries where leave is shared by both parents.
