Parents working or studying in School of Medicine

The School of Medicine aims to celebrate and accommodate all kinds of families, and is committed to non-discrimination on the basis of family or civil status. Below are some resources which may be useful to parents, carers and those who are pregnant while studying or working in the School of Medicine.

Breastfeeding facilities

A list of breastfeeding facilities across TCD’s main campus, as well as at our hospital campuses, can be found here.

Daycare facilities

TCD’s Day Nursery accommodates children from 3 months to 5 years old. This facility can be accessed by staff and student parents. Information on how to apply and fees for this service are available here.

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides financial support to help everyone in Ireland with their childcare costs. This is for children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years of age. There are 2 types of childcare subsidy:

• A universal subsidy which is not means tested.
• An income-assessed subsidy which is means tested.

Please see www.ncs.gov.ie for further details and the ECCE scheme Early Learning & Child Care here.

Student resources

The TCD Policy on Support for Student Parents, Student Carers and Students Experiencing Pregnancy is available here. This policy aims to support students as they navigate myriad complexities of additional caring responsibilities and pregnancy. This policy includes a clear set of protocols and a range of flexible accommodations to assist students who are parents or carers or who are experiencing pregnancy.

Such accommodations also apply to those undertaking hospital placements during their education. For example, placement dates/times may be negotiated, where possible, to accommodate caring/parental responsibilities. Undergraduate and postgraduate students can reach out to School of Medicine Student Welfare Officer Simone Cameron-Coen (Simone.Cameron-Coen@tcd.ie) for more information about this policy.

Information on TCD policies, as well as support facilities, legal protections and external supports for student carers and parents and students experiencing pregnancy are available from the TCD EDI office here.

The TCD Global Office offer specific orientations for international students who are parents. More information can be found here.

Additional information on student supports for student parents, as well as a link to the TCD Student Parent and Caregiver Whatsapp group are outlined here.

The Senior Tutor’s Office (stosec@tcd.ie) can also provide you with further information regarding specific supports available to student parents for academic, financial and other matters.

Staff resources

Maternity and Paternity Leave

Information on adoptive leave, parental leave, maternity and paternity leave, as well as other types of leave, available to staff, are outlined here.

Maternity leave: TCD employees are entitled to 26 consecutive weeks maternity leave, of which at least two weeks must be taken before the expected date of the birth and at least four weeks taken after the date of the birth of your child. Maternity leave with pay is available to all members of staff who have completed at least 26 weeks of continuous employment with no break in service prior to the commencement of the Maternity Leave. More detailed information about staff maternity leave is available here.

Paternity leave: Paternity leave is a period of two consecutive weeks leave available to a relevant parent on the birth/adoption of a child, where the date of birth/day of placement falls on or after 1st September 2016. This leave is to allow the relevant parent to assist in the care of the child or to provide support to the mother/relevant adopting parent of the child. As part of the University’s commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, State Paternity Benefit will be topped up to full salary (once certain criteria are met). A staff member on Paternity Leave will continue to receive net pay at the rate payable prior to the commencement of the Paternity Leave, based on existing tax credits. The staff paternity leave policy is available here and procedural information is available here.