John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 653: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the incremental point of teachers absent on additional unpaid maternity leave of up to eight weeks will be paid retrospective to people back to 1991 rather than the proposed date of 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25656/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act, 2004 amended the previous legislation to provide that a person on additional statutory maternity leave is deemed to remain in employment for the period of their absence. Apart from their right to remuneration, superannuation benefits or obligation to make (pension) contributions for the period of this absence, the Act referred to provides that an employee's rights cannot be altered while on additional maternity leave. The Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 became effective from 18 October 2004.

Accordingly, the incremental points of teaching and non teaching staff paid by my Department and affected by the amendment to the Act referred to, are being amended from the 18th October 2004.