Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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437. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to review the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill to ensure benefits akin to adoptive and maternity leave are provided for the care of newborn infants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9980/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for the administration and payment of a range of benefits that support parents of newborn and young babies. Entitlement to these benefits follows on from having an entitlement to the corresponding leave.

The legislation governing the different forms of leave is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Any question relating to leave entitlement should be directed to that Department.

All parents, including those whose babies have been born through surrogacy, have access to Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit, subject to their satisfying the qualifying conditions.

In Budget 2024, I provided for a €12 increase in weekly social welfare payments from January. As a result, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at a rate of €274 per week. Any further changes to the rates would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

In addition, in Budget 2024, I provided for the extension of Parent's Leave and Benefit from 7 weeks per parent to 9 weeks per parent from August of this year. This leave and benefit must be availed of within 2 years of the child's birth or adoption.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.