Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
797. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated cost of extending maternity benefit by 12 weeks for mothers whose maternity leave ends between March and November 2020. [19994/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra798. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the estimated full-year cost of extending maternity benefit by one week. [19995/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 798 together.
Maternity benefit is a payment made for 26 weeks to employed and self-employed women who are on maternity leave and who satisfy certain pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. My colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, has policy and legal responsibility for maternity leave.
In 2020 it is estimated that the Department will spend in excess of €270 million on maternity benefit in respect of an average of 21,000 recipients per week. Each additional week of maternity benefit for all women on maternity leave, based on current recipient levels, would cost €10.3m in a full year. Increasing the benefit by 12 weeks for periods of maternity leave ending from March to November 2020 would cost an estimated €93 million.
It should also be noted that there would be additional costs to employers, including the Exchequer, as these estimates do not include the costs for substitution or salary top-ups which would be a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
