Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

901.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if specific paid leave will be introduced for persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35987/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Pregnancy loss is a tragedy and the difficulties that parents and families experience as a result cannot be over-stated. The Government recognises the need to support parents who find themselves in these tragic circumstances.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legislative responsibility for the various types of family leave such as Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for any associated social welfare benefit payments. The same would be true were a decision taken to introduce a system of leave and benefit in the case of pregnancy loss due to a miscarriage.

Eligibility for Maternity and Paternity Benefit is based on a person's social insurance contribution record, as well as some other qualifying criteria. The payment is for 26 weeks in the case of Maternity Benefit and for two weeks in the case of Paternity Benefit. Assuming all the other qualifying conditions are met, both payments are payable in the case of a stillbirth any time after the 24th week of pregnancy, that is, from the beginning of the 25th week, or where the birth weight is at least 500g. Sixteen weeks unpaid Maternity Leave is also available in these circumstances.

I have recently brought forward legislation which has since been enacted which changes the definition of a stillbirth to include a pregnancy loss which occurs after the 23rd week of pregnancy, or where the birth weight is at least 400g. These changes, which apply to the Civil Registration Acts and to the Maternity and Paternity Benefit provisions will take effect from the 16th of September.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned a qualitative research study from UCC, the "PLACES study", to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The recommendations arising from this study are being considered at present and will help to inform Government policy on this matter.

I trust this clarifies the position.