Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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257. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of the additional maternity leave and benefit for mothers of premature babies who are currently on maternity leave but the children of which were born before 1 October 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45396/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection does not collect data on the number of mothers with premature babies born before 1 October 2017 who are currently on maternity leave as this information was not necessary to make a decision on an application for maternity benefit prior to 1 October 2017. In this context the cost associated with allowing mothers of premature babies born before 1 October 2017 who are currently on maternity leave additional maternity leave and benefit, as outlined by the Deputy, is not available.