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Maternity Benefit

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020

Tuesday, 7 July 2020

Questions (642, 643, 644, 647, 650, 654, 657)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

642. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to increase maternity benefit for mothers in the lifetime of the Government; if so, the estimated increase; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14397/20]

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Verona Murphy

Question:

643. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if the provision for temporary extension of maternity leave and benefit for mothers impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown during which social interactions for new babies was greatly restricted will be considered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14400/20]

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Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

644. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will advance her support for the campaign to temporarily extend maternity leave and maternity benefit by three months for those whose maternity leave has or will expire during the public health restrictions. [14434/20]

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Paul Donnelly

Question:

647. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if a temporary extension of maternity leave from six to nine months will be considered for mothers whose benefit claim expired during the Covid-19 lockdown. [14448/20]

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Sorca Clarke

Question:

650. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will revisit the issue of extending maternity leave for new mothers that are due to return to work but have lost out on precious time with their babies due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [14479/20]

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Gary Gannon

Question:

654. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if maternity leave will be extended for women due to the Covid-19 crisis. [14503/20]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

657. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if clarity will be provided on the measures to temporarily extend maternity leave and maternity benefit by three months for those that are currently on maternity leave in view of Covid-19. [14580/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 to 644, inclusive, 647, 650, 654 and 657 together.

As the law now stands, a mother is entitled to paid maternity leave of up to 26 weeks, and up to a further 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Two weeks must be taken before the baby is due, and at least four weeks must be taken after the birth.

Any amendment to the legislation governing the provision of maternity leave, which falls under my responsibility, would require primary legislation. The provision of maternity benefit is under the remit of the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

in addition to maternity leave, each parent may also avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a child’s life and may qualify for parent’s benefit during this period. Parental leave is also available which entitles parents to take unpaid leave from work to spend time looking after their children. Parents can take up to 22 weeks of parental leave for each eligible child before their 12th birthday.

Consideration is currently being given to these issues.

On 29 May the Minister for Finance announced changes to the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme to accommodate the salaries of parents returning from maternity or adoptive leave. The changes are aimed at individuals who may not have been on the payroll of their employer on 29 February, or been paid in either January or February 2020 and will allow for consistent treatment with other employees. The amendment will be legislated for later in the year as part of the usual Finance Bill 2020 process, but in the interim Revenue has agreed to provide a facility to accommodate such cases. Although expected to be implemented on the 12th June, Revenue launched a new process on Monday 8th June which allows employers to include employees returning to employment after a period of paternity, parental or related unpaid leave or were in receipt of Health and Safety Benefit, Parent’s Benefit or Illness Benefit paid by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP). Employers who wish to access the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme on behalf of eligible employees covered by these changes can do so by completing a short form available for download via MyEnquiries in Revenue’s Online Service (ROS). The relevant details that employers will need to provide to Revenue include current contractual gross pay, pay frequency, normal PRSI class, type of leave the returning employee availed of and the date of return to work. Any retrospective subsidy payments due to impacted employees will be processed by Revenue in due course. This retrospection will apply from 26 March 2020, the date of return to employment or the date the employer was registered for the scheme, whichever is the latest.

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