Chapter 5 of 10 · Leave · Leave planner

When can we take leave, and what is it paid?

Checked 13 Oct 2026the Maternity Protection, Paternity Leave, Parent's Leave and Parental Leave Acts.

Maternity leave is 26 weeks paid by Maternity Benefit (€299 a week) plus 16 unpaid; paternity leave 2 weeks within 26 of the birth; parent's leave 9 weeks each within 2 years; parental leave 26 weeks unpaid by the child's 12th birthday. Enter the due date for a timeline with the notice dates.

Your dates

The due date, and what each parent wants to take

Kept in this tab only; closing it clears the plan. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Due date (or placement date)Maternity leave starts this many weeks before the due date (2 to 16)Unpaid additional maternity weeks wanted (0 to 16)Parent's leave the mother will take after maternity leave (0 to 9 weeks)

A second parent is also an employee and will take paternity and parent's leave

Paternity leave starts this many weeks after the birth (0 to 24)Parent's leave the second parent will take after paternity leave (0 to 9 weeks)

The planner is a timeline from the statutory rules and the standard benefit rates. It is not an application, and whether a benefit is paid depends on PRSI contributions the Department of Social Protection checks.