Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1504. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the current waiting times for maternity benefit applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35427/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Maternity benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed pregnant women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions on their own insurance record. The benefit is payable for 26 weeks at a rate of €235 per week with possible increases for adult and child dependents.

An online claim facility provides customers with a convenient and effective method of submitting a maternity benefit claim and will facilitate the speedy determination of entitlement as the process is fully automated where all conditions are fulfilled.

Processing of maternity benefit claims is up to date and there are no claims awaiting payment where the mother has commenced her maternity leave. Claims are processed in leave commencement date order and claims with a commencement date in early August are currently being processed.