Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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53. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to amend the rules on maternity benefit and maternity leave to allow for mothers of preterm babies by the time between the delivery date of the baby, the date the baby would have been delivered if full term or the date of the baby leaving the hospital, whichever is the later; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17589/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Maternity leave is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. Maternity Benefit is paid by my Department for the duration of statutory maternity leave and is based on payment of PRSI contributions while working.

The current entitlement to maternity leave is 26 weeks paid with 16 weeks additional unpaid maternity leave also available. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to increasing paid parental leave in the first year of birth. Legislation currently provides for the postponement of maternity leave for up to six months when the child is hospitalised.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department can make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure or an urgent needs payment (UNP) to people who would not normally qualify for SWA but who have an urgent need which they cannot meet from their own resources where no alternative is available.

As the Deputy is aware, Deputies Catherine Martin and Eamon Ryan tabled a Private Members Motion which was discussed by the Dáil on Wednesday 5 April 2017. The motion called on the Government ~"to extend the period of statutory maternity leave and maternity benefit for mothers of premature babies, by the length of time between the delivery date of the baby and either the date the baby would have been delivered if full-term or the date of the baby leaving hospital, whichever is later".

The Government did not oppose the motion, but in responding, signalled our intention to address the substantive issue in the context of the Family Leave Bill, which is being developed by my colleague Ms. Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality. My Department will be consulting closely with the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health and others in the formulation of precise legislative proposals.