Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

229. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost of introducing an additional one, two and six weeks respectively, of maternity leave. [38112/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Justice and Equality has policy responsibility for maternity leave which is provided for in the 1994 and 2004 Maternity Acts. Any decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.

The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection has responsibility for the payment of maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).

The costs of salary top-ups for public/civil servants on maternity leave would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Decisions around the extension of this benefit would have to be considered in a budgetary context.