Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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284. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the additional supports or supplementary payments available to individuals on maternity leave, including access to the supplementary welfare allowance or mortgage interest supplements; if he will review the current rate of maternity benefit and the potential introduction of a mandatory employer top-up scheme to better support working families and promote workplace equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27749/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of supports for individuals on maternity leave, primarily through Maternity Benefit. Maternity Benefit is a payment for employed and self-employed women who are on Maternity Leave from work and who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. It is currently paid at €289 per week for 26 weeks. Any changes to the rate of Maternity Benefit would need to be considered within an overall budgetary context.

Many employers provide additional top-ups to individuals on maternity leave as part of contractual arrangements. Whether or not an employer provides a top-up is a matter for the employer and employee.

Under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or other personal and household resources. The payment is available to anyone who needs it and qualifies, whether the person is currently receiving a social welfare payment or working on a low income.

There are no specific supports from my department regarding mortgage costs. The most appropriate way for customers experiencing mortgage difficulties is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore a sustainable and appropriate repayment structures with their lending institution.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.