I am not aware of any anomaly which would preclude the payment of full maternity benefit to a woman by virtue of the child being born prematurely or where the child is born less than 12 months after a previous birth. However, if the Department can supply details of a specific case I will have it examined.
Maternity benefit is payable to an employed woman where it is certified by her employer that she is entitled to maternity leave under the Maternity Protection Act, 1994; and she satisfies the relevant PRSI contribution conditions.
Maternity benefit is normally payable for 14 weeks. At least four and not more than ten of these weeks must be taken before the baby is due and at least four weeks must be taken after the baby is due.
The weekly rate of maternity benefit payable is 70 per cent of the woman's average reckonable weekly earnings in the relevant tax year subject to a minimum weekly payment of £75.70, increasing to £82.30 from June, and a maximum payment of £162.80. However, in any case where the woman would be entitled to a higher rate of payment on disability benefit if she was absent from work through illness, then the rate of maternity benefit payable is equal to the higher rate of disability benefit which would be paid in such circumstances.
