Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
614. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will bring forward primary legislation to amend the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 to 2004 in order that women who had already started or completed their maternity period would be entitled to take a further 13 weeks leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9971/21]
View answerThe Maternity Protection Acts provide for up to 26 weeks paid maternity leave, and a further 16 weeks unpaid leave. Where a child is born prematurely, additional weeks may be available.
There have been significant advances in the provision of family leaves in recent years. The Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, for example, extended the parental leave entitlement by 8 weeks, on a phased basis. The last of these increases came into effect on 1 September 2020 and parents are now entitled to 26 weeks in total of this type of leave.
In addition, the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced two weeks leave and an associated benefit for each parent to be taken in the first year after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Under proposals approved by Government in December 2020, each parent will be given an additional three weeks of paid parent’s leave, and the period in which it can be taken will be extended to the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child. Legislation is currently being developed to give effect to these proposals and it is anticipated that the legislation will be introduced in early 2021.
Mindful of the recent significant increase in parental leave entitlements, the Government has no plans to make any further amendments to maternity leave.
