Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 January 2015
67. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the cost to extend paid maternity leave from 26 weeks to 52 weeks over a five-year period: year 1, 26 weeks to 36 weeks; year 2, 36 weeks to 40 weeks; year 3, 40 weeks to 44 weeks; year 4, 44 weeks to 48 weeks; year 5, 48 weeks to 52 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1269/15]
View answerMaternity benefit is an income maintenance payment awarded to eligible women for a 26-week period on foot of a confinement. Entitlement to this benefit for employees is contingent on entitlement to statutory maternity leave.
In 2015 my Department will spend an estimated €254.16 million on maternity benefit and adoptive benefit, a related scheme. Based on this estimate the projected cost of increasing maternity and adoptive benefit provision to 52 weeks over a five year period is as follows:
|
Year |
Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
Year 5 |
|
Additional cost 26 to 36 weeks |
€97.75m |
€97.75m |
€97.75m |
€97.75m |
€97.75m |
|
Additional cost 36 to 40 weeks |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
|
|
Additional cost 40 to 44 weeks |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
||
|
Additional cost 44 to 48 weeks |
€39.11m |
€39.11m |
|||
|
Additional cost 48 to 52 weeks |
€39.11m |
||||
|
Total additional cost |
€97.75m |
€136.86m |
€175.96m |
€215.06m |
€254.16m |
|
Total additional cost over 5 years |
€879.79m |
