Ned O'Keeffe
Question:357 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will qualify for maternity benefit.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.
The person concerned made a claim for maternity benefit on 24 July 1991 in respect of her expected confinement on 20 October 1991.
One of the qualifying contribution conditions for maternity benefit requires the claimant to have at least 39 reckonable paid contributions since entry into insurance. The condition is not satisfied on her contribution record which comprises only class K contributions which do not reckon for maternity benefit.
The claim was investigated further and it has been decided that the employment is insurable under the Social Welfare Acts and that contributions are payable at class A1. Notice of the decision is being issued to the persons concerned.
As a result of the decision there are arrears of contributions due for payment. The claim for maternity benefit cannot be allowed until the arrears of contributions concerned are paid.