Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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1350. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection his views on the disparity whereby from budget 2026 the flat rate maternity benefit of €289 per week will be lower than the new jobseeker’s pay related benefit, which can provide up to 60% of previous earnings; if he will introduce a pay-related maternity benefit to ensure fairness, gender equality, and protect women’s pension entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45133/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on Maternity Leave from work and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Government has provided over €295 million for the scheme in 2025.

Maternity Benefit is payable at the weekly rate of €289 and was increased by €15 from 1 January 2025. If a person has dependants, they may be eligible for a higher payment of Maternity Benefit depending on their circumstances. In such cases, the person will be paid the equivalent rate of Illness Benefit appropriate to their family which includes increases for spouses or partners and children as appropriate. Further information is available on my Department's website.

Any changes to payment rates of Maternity Benefit will be considered in a budgetary context as part of the overall measures for welfare supports.

The new programme for Government commits to ‘Introduce Pay-Related Parent's Benefit and explore other payments where a similar model could be applied.’ While the initial focus is on Parent’s Benefit, the development of this scheme will help to inform the consideration of the possible extension of a pay-related approach for other family leave benefits. Work on Pay-Related Parent’s Benefit is ongoing.