Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1019.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the levels of maternity benefit and maternity leave, of paternity benefit and leave, of parental benefit and parental leave which shall apply during 2025; and if there are any anticipated changes in any of these due to take place during 2025.[35821/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Maternity Benefit its payable for 26 weeks to employees, who are on Maternity Leave from work, and the self-employed, where they satisfy the Pay Related Social Insurance contributions and other qualifying conditions. A further 14 weeks unpaid Maternity Leave is also available.

Paternity Leave and Benefit are available to eligible parents for two weeks.

Since August, nine weeks Parent’s Leave and Benefit is available to both parents, subject to the qualifying conditions. It must be availed of within two years of the child’s birth or adoption. Parental Leave is a separate scheme of 26 weeks unpaid leave which must be taken before the child’s 12^th birthday.

Maternity, Paternity and Parent’s Benefit are currently paid at €274 per week. The rates of these and other social welfare payments are considered each year as part of the annual Budget process. Where rates are changed in the Budget, the changes generally take effect from the following January.

Any changes to any of the leave arrangements would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Integration, Disability and Youth.

I trust this clarifies the position.