There has been a five-fold increase in the number of parents availing of Parent's Benefit since the extension of the scheme in April, according to figures from the Department of Social Protection.
Over 20,400 parents were awarded Parent's Benefit between April and July this year.
4,600 received the benefit in the same period in 2020.
Payments valued at €14 million were issued in the four month period this year, the Department said.
Parent’s Leave and Benefit was extended to five weeks on April 1st this year, an increase of three weeks.
The payment is made at a rate of €245 per week - the same as Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive benefits.
It is available for both parents to allow them to spend more time with their newborn children during their formative years or with their adopted children.
"I want to take this opportunity to remind any parents who may have already availed of the original two weeks leave that the extension announced in the Budget applies retrospectively to parents of children born on or adopted since 1 November 2019, and they can now claim the additional three weeks available to them," Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said.
"I hope the strong uptake of this scheme continues over the coming months and I urge all eligible parents to submit an application on www.MyWelfare.ie," the Minister added.
