Government urged to review paternity leave supports

Men's health charity Movember has called on the Irish government to set up a Paternity Leave Working Group. The group would examine the length of paternity leave, payment rates, and workplace culture, the charity said in a report released to mark Men's Health Week.

State paternity benefit now pays €299 a week for two weeks, which must be taken consecutively. A Movember-commissioned survey of 403 fathers with children aged ten or under found that those who took paternity leave lost three-quarters of their weekly average income. Almost seven in ten reported financial strain from the leave.

Ireland ranks fifth from the bottom among EU states for paid supported leave for new fathers. The report notes that the country's two-week allocation is the minimum allowed under EU law, a gap the charity wants closed.

Half of survey respondents said taking more leave would have risked their career progression. Movember Country Manager Sarah Ouellette said fathers who take paternity leave report better mental health, stronger bonds with their child, and greater ability to support their partner. She added, "When fathers are supported, families benefit. Ten years on, Ireland still lags behind Europe."

The report calls for stakeholder talks to address what Ouellette described as a "whole-of-society issue." No government response has been announced.