Celebrating Mother’s Day: An Exploration of Parental Support and Childcare Across Europe
How does Ireland's maternity policy stack up against those in other European nations?
In Ireland, mothers are entitled to 26 weeks of fully or partially paid leave, in addition to 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Moreover, each parent has the option to take up to nine weeks of leave that must be utilized before their child turns two.
This means a fully employed new mother in Ireland can spend at least the first year at home with her baby. For those fortunate enough to secure a spot, their child then transitions into a crèche.…