Vol. 529 No. 2
143 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 is entitled to six weeks full payment of her late husband's pension; if not, the reasons therefor; the plans he has to change the regulation in order that such a person would in the future be entitled to such a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2672/01]
If a person dies while in receipt of a social welfare payment, including an increase in respect of a spouse, the spouse continues to receive the payment for six weeks after the death. This is to prevent the sudden loss of payment at this time.
In the case of the person concerned, she and her late husband were in receipt of an invalidity pension in their own right. She was not in receipt of an increase on her late husband's pension claim and, therefore, no continuing payment after death applies in this case. Her pension continues to be paid to her.
There are various other schemes within the social welfare system to assist families in dealing with after death and funeral expenses. These include, as detailed, the payment of a bereavement grant to insured people and their families. An application for bereavement grant has been received from the person concerned and payment of this grant will issue to her shortly.
A number of important changes have, however, been introduced to improve these arrangements. These include an enhanced bereavement grant of £500, the introduction of a once-off payment of £1,000 to widows and widowers with dependent children who qualify for a widow's or widower's contributory pension, a one parent family payment or a bereavement grant. In addition, a number of additional measures in the Social Welfare Act, 2000, to improve the scheme of six weeks after death payments were also made.
Any further changes in relation to the scheme of six weeks after death payments would have to be considered in the context of future budgets and within available resources.
144 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will clarify his plans for the improvement in maternity benefit and for the timeframe in this regard; and if women who are taking maternity leave when the improvement commences will be included in the new 18 week benefit. [2688/01]
The budget provided for the extension of maternity and adoptive leave by four weeks to 18 weeks from early April. The Government subsequently decided to bring forward this measure. Entitlement to maternity benefit is linked to entitlement to maternity leave. In order to extend the duration of maternity and adoptive leave both the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, and the Adoptive Leave Act, 1995, have to be amended by way of regulations. However, these regulations, to be introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, require a positive motion of approval to be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas before the amendments can take effect. I understand that it is hoped that a resolution approving the draft will be passed by both Houses in the near future.
Under the provisions of both the Maternity Protection Act and the Adoptive Leave Act the extended duration of maternity and adoptive leave will only apply to people who give their employers four weeks notice of their intention to take the extended leave following the approval of the regulations.
Provision for the extension of Maternity Benefit to 18 weeks is included in the Social Welfare Bill which will be going through the House shortly. These provisions will become effective from the date on which the extended leave becomes effective. In addition to the extension of paid maternity leave, the budget also provided for an increase of four weeks additional unpaid maternity leave and an extension of all employment rights, including the award of credited contributions for any additional maternity leave taken. Regulations governing the award of these credited contributions will be provided for shortly.
Further improvements announced in the budget include an increase of £8 in the minimum rates of payment for maternity and adoptive benefit from £90.70 to £98.70 a week and a £10.20 increase in the maximum rates from £172.80 to £183. These increases will come into effect from 2 April 2001.
