Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 November 2023
332. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Social Protection whether any consideration is being given to broadening the eligibility for the State maternity benefit in order to ensure that Ph.D candidates can receive the benefit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50664/23]
View answerMaternity Benefit is a statutory payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions. The fundamental qualification criteria for Maternity Benefit are that the person must be in insurable employment and entitled to statutory maternity leave or be in insurable self-employment.
The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has policy and legal responsibility for Maternity Leave. Any extension to current maternity leave provisions to include PhD candidates are a matter for his Department to consider in the first instance.
Any proposal to change the qualifying criteria for the associated Maternity Benefit would have to be considered in an overall budgetary context. There are no such plans at present.
I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
