Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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1791.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions taken to progress his proposal to allow maternity leave to be postponed for people diagnosed with cancer or other serious illnesses. [31801/24]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1802.To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to ensure that individuals who face terminal illnesses during their maternity leave, are provided with the necessary support and assistance, including access to sick-pay and flexible working arrangements as in the case of a person (details supplied). [32031/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1791 and 1802 together.

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. A General Scheme and Heads of Bill related to this has now been prepared, and I plan to bring this to Cabinet for approval shortly.

I commend the work done by the Irish Cancer Society and others to highlight this important issue, and I am very pleased to be able to progress this reform.

Currently an employee who has given birth is entitled to 26 weeks paid maternity leave, and a further 16 weeks unpaid leave. In addition, each relevant parent of a child under two is entitled to an individual entitlement of 9 weeks paid parent's leave, which will increase to 11 weeks from 1 August 2024.

With the transposition of the Work-Life Balance Directive, employees who are parents or carers have the right to request flexible working arrangements, and all employees have the right to request flexible working. The Government has introduced 5 days statutory sick leave which enables employees to receive a sick leave payment from their employer when ill.