Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the cost to extend paid maternity leave from 26 weeks to 52 weeks over a five year period, year 1, 26 weeks to 36 weeks, year 2, 36 weeks to 40 weeks, year 3, 40 weeks to 44 weeks, year 4, 44 weeks to 48 weeks, year 5, 48 weeks to 52 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1269/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Maternity benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded to eligible women for a 26-week period on foot of a confinement. Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory maternity leave.

In 2015 my Department will spend an estimated €254.16 million on maternity benefit and adoptive benefit, a related scheme. Based on this estimate the projected cost of increasing maternity and adoptive benefit provision to 52 weeks over a five year period is as follows: