PARENTS will be able to avail of a combined 14 weeks of paid parental leave by 2021, says Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty.

She was speaking at the unveiling of the First 5 strategy to support babies, young children and their families.

First 5 contains a pledge to extend paid leave entitlements for both dads and mums up to a combined 14 weeks by 2021, in addition to maternity and paternity leave.

Ms Doherty, who was speaking at the launch, said: “I was particularly pleased to recently introduce a new parental benefit scheme which will allow both parents to access an additional two weeks leave in the first year of their child’s life.

“Over the coming years, it is the Government’s intention to extend this entitlement to seven weeks per parent.

“This initiative allows us to respond to the vital need to support parents of young children and recognises the formative nature of the first year of a child’s life.”

And there will be a roll-out of a hot meals initiative for kids in disadvantaged schools.

Ms Doherty said: “Research shows us the value of the provision of adequate and nutritious meals for a child’s health, learning, attention and educational achievement.

“I will be establishing a pilot programme for a hot meals scheme in DEIS primary schools to provide hot dinners for up to some 7,200 children.

“If successful, I would hope to work with the Department of Education and Skills in extending the scheme on a much wider basis in future years and establish the scheme on a permanent basis.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is committed to implementing the strategy and said at the launch: “The Government wants to make life easier for families, while also providing children with the best possible start.

“The first five years of a child’s life only happen once, but the impact of their experiences during this period can last a lifetime. For this reason, the Government has developed the ‘First 5’ Strategy.

“This is the first strategy of its kind in Ireland, setting out a roadmap for change and development over the coming decade.”

Health Minister Simon Harris also announced plans to develop a dedicated child health workforce, signalling an investment in more public health nurses.

This would, Mr Harris said, “increase the capacity of the HSE to provide health promotion and prevention and early intervention services for the benefit all babies and young children”.

There will also be a new Parenting Unit set up in the Department of Children.

And the plan lays out an ambition to ensure there is a universal legal entitlement to two years free pre-school for all children as well as a bid to raise the pay and conditions of childcare staff.

Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone said: “Alongside greater opportunities to balance work and home life through parental leave and flexible working, First 5 develops a new national model of parenting supports, ranging from universal to targeted, making parenting supports and high quality programmes more accessible to all families for the first time.”