Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will allow maternity leave and benefit to commence at the discretion of the mother in cases where the mother has had her baby during cancer treatment to allow her to choose when her maternity leave and benefit begins, allowing her that time with her newborn rather than have that time taken and lost to her due to cancer treatment; if he will bring this change forward in the upcoming Social Welfare Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27187/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Maternity Protection Act 1994 and the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 provide a pregnant employee with six months of paid maternity leave and an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. All forms of family leave are kept under review to ensure that they are effective in supporting families and children.At the end of last year I announced plans to introduce legislation to allow women undergoing treatment for cancer or other serious illnesses postpone their maternity leave.It is planned to bring this forward together with a number of amendments arising out of my Department’s review of Ireland’s equality legislation. My officials are finalising these proposals and I intend to bring them to Cabinet for approval in the coming weeks.