Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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562. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on reviewing the maternity benefit payment rate. [5180/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution and other conditions. In Budget 2022 I provided for an increase of €5 in the weekly payment rate. As a result, the rate of Maternity Benefit now stands at €250 per week. The rate of Maternity Benefit is in line with the rates of Paternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Parent’s Benefit.

In 2021, the estimated total cost of Maternity Benefit was €267 million which was paid in respect of almost 43,400 claims.

Any proposals in relation to the rate of this and other benefits would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.