Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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950.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will implement increased time for maternity and paternity leave associated with multiple births (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.[34353/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maternity and Paternity Leave are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Department of Social Protection has responsibility for the associated benefits and for Child Benefit.

To help parents of children born at the same time and in recognition of the additional demands on parents, Section 221A(2) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 provides for a higher rate of Child Benefit to be paid for multiple births. Twins are paid at one and a half times the standard monthly rate for each child, that is, €210 per month for each twin. All other multiple births are paid at double the standard monthly rate for each child, that is €280 per child.

These increased payments continue for as long as all of the children remain qualified. The additional monthly premia in respect of multiple births acknowledges the reality of additional costs for parents of multiple births.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.