Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independent)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the entitlements of a person (details supplied) under SI 654 of 2004, Maternity Protection, Protection of Mothers Who Are Breastfeeding Regulations 2004. [19372/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department's Circular 0017/2013 covers the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNA) in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools.

Special Needs Assistants are entitled to take maternity leave in the same way as all other employees in the State that is, 26 weeks paid leave and 16 weeks additional unpaid leave. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 states:

" Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled to one hour per day for the purpose of breastfeeding. The time off, without loss of pay, may be taken as follows:

(a) one break of 60 minutes, or

(b) two breaks of 30 minutes each, or

(c) three breaks of 20 minutes each.

The entitlement's as contained in paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 are in accordance with the Maternity Protection, Protection of Mothers Who Are Breastfeeding Regulations 2004.