Potential plans to allow mothers double the amount of paid leave they receive after having a baby, and to receive extra weeks off if they split the time at home with their partner, will only improve child services if they are backed up by a series of other wide-ranging reforms.
Early Childhood Ireland chief executive, Teresa Heeney, took this stance after the Irish Examiner revealed the Government is considering major changes to parental leave in order to free up space in creches.
Under measures which are still being examined by an inter-departmental group led by Children’s Minister James Reilly’s office, the 26-week paid maternity leave cap may be extended to a year and could be shared with fathers who currently have no right to paid leave after having a child.
Read the full article on the Irish Examiner website here
