Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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856. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of increasing maternity benefit from 26 weeks to 29 weeks. [30726/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The question of extending the duration of maternity leave would be matter for consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. My Department has responsibility for the payment of any associated maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended).

Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks at a rate of €245 per week. There is a provision of €261m for maternity benefit for 2021. The estimated full year cost of increasing the duration of maternity benefit by 3 weeks would be approximately €29.6m.

It should also be noted that there would be additional costs to the Exchequer as this estimate does not include the costs for substitution or salary top-ups which 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 and the impact it would have on employers.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.