Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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294. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the decision on the application for maternity benefit by a person (details supplied) could be reviewed in view of their long-term employment history and contributions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7291/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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An application for maternity benefit by the person concerned was refused on the grounds that she was not in insurable employment at the time of her application.

In order to qualify for payment of maternity benefit, in addition to meeting the PRSI contribution condition for the tax year relevant to the claim the person concerned must also be in insurable employment that is covered by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994. The last day of insurable employment must be within 16 weeks of the end of the week the baby is due. According to the information supplied, the person concerned was last in employment on 22nd April 2016 and as her baby was due on 8th December 2016, she could not be certified for maternity leave.

The person concerned has lodged an appeal with the Social Welfare Appeals Office who will carry out a full and independent review of the decision.