Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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651. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps her Department plans to take to implement the recommendations of the report into pregnancy loss PLACES Research Report, published in January 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13450/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I recognise the enormous impact that pregnancy loss has on expectant parents, and I wish to extend my sympathies to all parents who have suffered such a loss.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned a qualitative research study to examine the workplace experiences of parents coping with pregnancy loss. The study, ‘PLACES | Pregnancy Loss (under 24 weeks) in Workplaces: Informing Policymakers on Support Mechanisms’, examines whether policy interventions are required at a national level to better to support these bereaved parents in the workplace.

The study focuses on people who experience pregnancy loss prior to 24 weeks’ gestation, as people who have a pregnancy loss after 24 weeks’ gestation can avail of full maternity leave and paternity leave entitlements.

The research report was published on 26 January 2024. The recommendations arising from this study are being reviewed with a view to determining Government policy in respect of this issue. Officials in the Department are currently in the process of developing the next National Strategy for Women and Girls, and the research will inform this work.