Vol. 428 No. 3
13 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the findings of a study (details supplied) which found that maternity benefit for Irish women was among the worst in the EC; if he has any plans to improve the value and availability of maternity benefit; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I welcome this opportunity to comment on the study referred to by the Deputy, as it contained a number of serious factual errors and was misleading in the impression it gave of the current situation as regards maternity benefit in this country.
First of all, let me say that the provisions of the Irish maternity benefit scheme are well above the minimum standards laid down in the EC Directive on the Protection of Pregnant Workers, as adopted by the Council of Ministers last October. Maternity benefit provides women workers with 70 per cent of their gross salary in the relevant tax year for 14 weeks, subject to maximum and minimum payments. When tax refunds are taken into account, the current level of payment corresponds to take-home pay for many women. Employees on low pay are guaranteed a minimum payment of £60 per week at present. The Social Welfare Bill currently before this House provides for the minimum payment to be increased to £65 from July and it also provides for the maximum payment to be increased from £154 to £159 per week. The study referred to by the Deputy assessed that only 16 per cent of Irish women receive maternity benefits today compared with 40 per cent in the first half of this century. This is not the case. In 1991, 13,268 maternity benefit claims were awarded under the women in employment scheme, representing 25 per cent of all births in that year. When one considers that only about 26 per cent of Irish women of childbearing age participate in the labour force, this is a fairly comprehensive and representative coverage.
By far the most serious error made in the study, however, was the suggestion that a woman might not qualify for unemployment benefit or assistance, or disability benefit during and after pregnancy. When the rationalisation of maternity schemes came into effect last year specific arrangements were put in place to ensure that women on unemployment benefit or disability benefit could continue to claim those payments for the duration of their maternity leave. More flexible signing arrangements have since been introduced for pregnant women claiming unemployment payments, so that they no longer have to attend for weekly signing during the 12 week period immediately before and after giving birth.
I would like to remind people undertaking research that officials are available to clarify the interpretation of statistics published by my Department.
Will the Minister agree, notwithstanding the points he made in relation to this research, that in European terms our maternity benefits scheme is not good? The amount of maternity leave granted is in the lower bands compared to similar countries. It is remarkable that this House has devoted a considerable amount of time and debate to the status of the child before delivery but has failed to pay much attention to him or her after delivery. Will the Minister also agree that the cost of having — and delivering — a child is not taken into account in any meaningful way in relation to benefits? The Minister did not refer to cutbacks introduced by the then Minister for Social Welfare, Deputy McCreevy, last year. Will he agree it is time we recognised that women have a right to a maternity benefit which is on a par with our European partners? We seem to suffer many of the negative effects of EC directives without reaping any benefits. Will the Minister comment on the length of time for which women can avail of benefit and the matter of the percentage of pay? I appreciate the points the Minister made in relation to the directive but the reality is that many elements in society wish to prevent women from availing of proper benefit. Our record is not good, despite what the Minister said, particularly when we claim to be a child oriented country.
We are in the middle range — or slightly above it — as far as the 14 weeks' maternity leave is concerned. I was responsible for introducing a period of 14 weeks and, therefore, I am familiar with the system. In Germany maternity benefit is paid for 14 weeks——
In some countries it is 28 weeks.
The minimum rate of £65 applies irrespective of the person's income. We have also brought in part-time workers, who would not be covered elsewhere, and who were particularly in need of support. We still maintained the minimum level even though part-time workers could be earning as little as £25 per week. When they now go on maternity leave they will receive £60, which will shortly rise to £65. The net take home pay is, of course, affected by tax and there are different arrangements in EC countries. Tax rebates are also paid. However, I will keep the matter under review because I appreciate the need for adequate support during that period.
