Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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355. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the work of his Department in addressing legislation that prohibits women from deferring their maternity leave while undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47099/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Maternity Protection Acts 1994-2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional three months of unpaid leave; alongside other entitlements such as breastfeeding breaks which I intend to extend to two years following the birth of the child through the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill which was approved by Government and will be introduced to the Houses shortly.

The Acts include provisions for the postponement of maternity leave in the event of the hospitalisation of the child and for the termination of additional unpaid maternity leave in the event of illness of the mother.

All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children. I asked my officials to examine the issues raised by the Irish Cancer Society in June this year, regarding the deferral of maternity leave where a mother falls ill during that period and this work is ongoing.