Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Ceist:201. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of increasing maternity benefit to €260 per week for the year 2017. [12059/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 25 May 2016
Ceisteanna (201)
Freagraí scríofa
Maternity Benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed pregnant women who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions in order to avoid the need for them to work pre and post-delivery of their baby. The original scheme was introduced in 1970 and was extended to include self-employed mothers with effect from June 1997.
In 2016 it is estimated that my Department will spend approximately €266 million on Maternity Benefit in respect of an average of 22,000 recipients per week.
The estimated cost of increasing Maternity Benefit to €260 per week for the year 2017 would be approximately €34.3 million per annum.