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Parents Leave

Page updated 1 August 2024

Parent’s Leave forms part of a suite of family-friendly initiatives available in UCD.  These initiatives support a more equitable sharing of parental caring duties by enabling eligible employees to take time off from work around the birth or adoption of their child, or the child of their spouse or partner. This page provides and overview of the UCD Parental Leave Policy and some key points.

Parent's Leave Policy

Parent’s Leave was introduced in 2019 as part of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act to provide time off for parents. Some key points of the UCD Policy include:

  • Parent’s Leave is available for all employees on a permanent contract, fixed term contract or a contract of indefinite duration (CID) and who are deemed to be the relevant parent of a child. A definition of relevant parent can be found in the Policy.
  • Parent’s leave is unpaid by UCD, however where enough PRSI contributions have been made, the parent will be entitled to a payment from the Department of Social Protection. Details on how to apply for Parent’s Benefit from the Department of Social Protection can be found on (opens in a new window)Gov.ie 
  • Parents leave is non-pensionable.
  • Parent’s Leave provides 9 weeks statutory leave for a relevant parent within the first two years of a child’s life, or in the case of adoption, within 2 years of the placement of the child with the family. The increase from 7 weeks to 9 weeks is effective from 1 August 2024. 
  • Parent’s Leave is available to each parent.
  • There is no qualifying period for entitlement to Parent’s Leave in UCD. 

Read the Parent's Leave Policy now.

This section contains a summary of a UCD policy, however, in all cases the Policy remains the definitive source of information on the topic.

Parent's Leave Process

Step 1: Gather the required information

Before you begin, you'll need to consider or be aware of the following information:

  • Applications for Parent’s Leave must be made at least 6 weeks in advance of the date that you wish to avail of the leave.
  • Employees who are entitled to the Parent’s Benefit from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (eg. Class A PRSI employees) must claim this benefit as outlined on (opens in a new window)MyWelfare.ie
  • Parent’s Leave is unpaid leave from UCD.

Step 2: Have a conversation

Once you have considered or gathered the information above, you will need to download and complete the UCD Notification of Intention to take Parent’s Leave Application form and have a conversation with your Head of School / Head of Unit or Nominee. They will need to sign off on the UCD Parent’s Leave Application Form, confirming approval to take this leave.

Step 3: Submit your documentation to HR

Following the conversation with your Head of School/Unit or Nominee you can submit your documentation to HR for implementation by email to (opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie :

  • Parent’s Leave Application form signed by Head of School/Unit or Nominee
  • A copy of the child’s birth certificate, or in the case of an adoption, a copy of the certificate of placement is required.

Step 4: Submit your application to the Parent’s Benefit Section

Parent’s leave is unpaid leave from UCD, but you may qualify for a payment called Parent’s Benefit during parent’s leave. For more details see (opens in a new window)Gov.ie

What happens next?

You will receive a letter from UCD HR confirming receipt of your “Intention to take Parent’s Leave” form.

Form and Supporting Information

UCD Employer Details
  • UCD Employer No.: 0079124M

Support for Parents

Information on parent buddy programmes and other supports are available on the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion website.

Employee Assistance Service

The UCD (EAS) is a 24/7 free and confidential support service designed to assist you in dealing more effectively with any personal or work-related problems you might be facing. The service is operated confidentially by Spectrum.Life, the largest provider of employee health and wellness services in Ireland.

The service can be used by a UCD employee, their spouse, civil partner and dependents where the family member can be described as over the age of 18 and residing in the family home.

Contact the HR Helpdesk

The HR Helpdesk is the primary point of contact for all your employment-related queries by email and telephone.  We are here to help you with any queries on employee benefits, terms & conditions and HR policies & procedures. If we can’t help you directly, we will refer your query to a HR specialist area.

All visitors to UCD HR, Roebuck offices should be by appointment only and arrangements to be made with specific HR staff members.

(opens in a new window)hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie

+ 353-1-716-4900

UCD HR
Roebuck Offices,
UCD Belfield Campus.

UCD Human Resources

Roebuck Offices, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 4900 | E: hrhelpdesk@ucd.ie | Location Map(opens in a new window)