The new government is having second thoughts about its own plan to cut parental leave pay because of the impact on income and gender inequality.

A majority of MPs, including coalition party members, have come out against the plan – which now appears to be an inadvertent effect of the 20% cut in social security benefits ministers want to introduce from 2029.

The cabinet said earlier that 18% of social security benefit claimants would get less money because of the cuts, which applies to incomes of over €5,294. It is not clear how many of them are likely to be new parents, who often earn less to start with.

The plan was also heavily criticised for causing more gender inequality. The measure would affect men more than women because their income is usually higher, making it less likely they would take parental leave.

Scrapping the measure will leave the cabinet with a budgetary shortfall of €50 million to €100 million which will now have to be found somewhere else. Social affairs minister Hans Vijlbrief will answer MP’s questions about how he proposes to solve the problem next week.