Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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2126. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the first and full year cost of increasing paid maternity leave by 1 to 16 weeks respectively. [28590/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The estimated additional cost of extending the duration of maternity benefit is approximately €10 million for each extra week. The table below estimates the additional cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit above its current 26 week duration at the current weekly rate of €235.

These estimates are based on the cost for a full year and assume that any increase in duration is implemented from the beginning of the year. The cost for the first year would depend on the implementation date that the increase in duration would take effect. This cost would be proportional to the full year cost.

Estimated annual cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit based on 2017 rates

It should be noted that this costing is subject to change over the coming months in the context of emerging trends and associated revision of the estimated numbers of recipients for 2017. It should also be noted that there are also costs to the Exchequer as these estimates do not include the costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants.