Written answers

Wednesday, 26 September 2007

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Social Welfare Code

10:00 pm

Photo of David StantonDavid Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 615: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his plans to extend maternity leave for mothers of premature babies who are hospitalised after birth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21117/07]

Photo of Martin CullenMartin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Maternity Benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded by this Department to eligible women for a twenty-six-week period on foot of a confinement. Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory Maternity Leave.

The right to Maternity Leave is established under the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 — legislation for which is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Any changes to current Maternity Leave provisions are a matter for him to consider in the first instance — and entitlement to Maternity Benefit would normally follow suit.

Under the provisions of social welfare legislation, the 26-week period of core statutory Maternity Leave attracts a payment from my Department — subject to certain social insurance contribution conditions being fulfilled. Maternity Leave legislation also provides an option for a woman to take an additional sixteen-week period of Maternity Leave that does not attract a benefit payment.

Some employment contracts allow for additional periods of leave to be taken or for an additional top-up payment to be made above the normal entitlement to Maternity Benefit. These arrangements are discretionary private contractual arrangements agreed between the employer and the female workers and, as such, are outside the realm of social welfare legislation.

With regards to the potential expansion of maternity leave and benefit arrangements, the scheme has experienced significant improvements, notably in the last few years, in terms of both the duration of the payment and the level at which it is paid. In 2000, the rate payable was the euro equivalent of €219.41 per week over 14 weeks — or €3,071 for the duration. Maternity Benefit is now paid at a weekly rate of €280 over 26 weeks — or €7,280 for the duration. This represents an increase of some 90% over a period during which average industrial earnings increased by just 67% per cent.

In line with the Maternity Leave (Amendment) Act, 2004, further changes have been made to the Maternity Benefit scheme. The period of leave that must be taken before the end of the week during which the baby is due has been reduced from 4 to 2 weeks. Also, the final 4 weeks of Maternity Benefit can now be postponed in the event of a child being hospitalised.

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