John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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527. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason maternity benefit was refused in the case of a person (details supplied); if time spent in full-time education and employment with a company (details supplied) will be considered; and if the fact the person had to finish work earlier than expected will qualify her for any other benefit. [19351/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned does not qualify for maternity benefit as she has less than the required 39 weeks paid contributions recorded in the year prior to going on her maternity leave. According to her maternity benefit application form and the records of the Department she commenced employment on 13^thSeptember 2016 and her maternity leave commenced on18^thMarch 2017, giving her a total of 26 weeks paid contributions.

Time spent in fulltime education does not confer entitlement to maternity benefit and is not considered when deciding a maternity benefit claim.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.