Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for tabling this amendment. Regarding extending parent’s leave and benefit, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has responsibility for parent’s leave policy and I have responsibility for the associated benefit payment. Parent’s leave and benefit are available to eligible parents within the first two years following the birth or adoption of a child. An extension to parent’s leave and benefit by two weeks to nine weeks per parent was introduced from 1 August 2024. To extend parent’s benefit by a further four weeks would cost an estimated €60 million in a full year. This estimate is based on current recipients and the 2025 rates of payment. However, it does not include additional costs, for example, agency cover in the public service, which would be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

I cannot ask the officials to conduct a report on an area where I do not have policy responsibility.

Regarding the introduction of a parental bereavement leave and benefit scheme, it would be acknowledged by all in the House that a stillbirth is a tragedy and a profound loss to the family. The Government recognises the need to support parents who find themselves in such circumstances. It is important that people know that there is already support available through the maternity and paternity benefit schemes to parents who experience a stillbirth. Féileacáin was happy that we changed the legislation so that parents were able to publicly register at the General Register Office the loss of children when they previously could not.

I recently brought forward legislation which changes the definition of a stillbirth to include a pregnancy loss that occurs after the 23rd week of pregnancy or where the birth weight is at least 400 g. These changes will apply to the Civil Registration Acts and to the maternity and paternity benefit provisions and took effect from 16 September 2024. Following a stillbirth, a mother is entitled to her full maternity leave and benefit as if she had a baby, which had arrived safely and thrived. If the loss occurs after the 23rd week of pregnancy or where the birth weight is at least 400 g they will be able to get the full maternity leave and benefit. The payment is for 26 weeks in the case of maternity benefit and for two weeks in the case of paternity benefit. Assuming all other qualifying conditions are met, both are payable in the case of a stillbirth any time after the 23rd week of pregnancy, that is, from the beginning of the 24th week or where the birth weight is at least 400 g. I do not think there is any need to do another report on this issue. What I did in the budget was increase the payment for these paternity and maternity benefits by €15 per week. That is especially to encourage more people to take up paternity benefit. There are not as many taking it up as we would like. We felt if I increased the payment that it might be more attractive to more people.

See this speech in context