Irish Times (07.05.2017) Irish workers could gain the right to four months of paid parentalleave for the first time under a proposal from Brussels that aims to encourage fathers to take on more parenting responsibilities. The Sunday Times reports that Ireland is one of only six EU countries where employers are not obliged to pay workers if they take parental leave. The draft work-life balance directive has angered employers, however.

The Department of Social Protection undertakes fraud and error surveys to identify the level of risk associated with particular schemes. The surveys highlight the risk of non-compliance with the rules of the schemes being surveyed at a particular point in time. The survey results allow the Department to target the scheme, and its particular risk areas, for stronger control measures, where necessary, to minimise the level of future risk.