Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 61F

Interpretation

Section 61F defines the key terms used throughout the Parent's Benefit chapter, in particular who qualifies as a "relevant parent" and "surviving parent" for the purposes of claiming the benefit.

• A "relevant parent" includes birth parents, adoptive parents, their spouses, civil partners or cohabitants, and both members of same-sex couples who adopt jointly.
• Self-employed persons have specific qualifying criteria mirroring those for employees, including parents of donor-conceived children.
• If a relevant parent dies, the "surviving parent" (typically the spouse, civil partner, cohabitant or other parent) may be entitled to claim in their place.
• An adopted child means one subject to an Irish adoption order or a recognised intercountry adoption.