LABOUR HAS PROMISED to introduce pay-related maternity leave in its general election manifesto launched earlier today, which seeks to use the wealth in Ireland to tackle ongoing issues around the country.

Under the new system, mothers on maternity leave will receive social welfare benefits relative to their current pay rather than the current model which issues a flat rate of €274 per week to every mother.

Housing for essential workers – using land owned by public services – and free GP care for all children are also included in the party’s election promises. 

The idea for a pay-related model to the maternity benefit was discussed during Budget 2025 negotiations but social protection minister Heather Humphreys said it would be an issue for the next government.

Such a model would insure that mothers do not see their income drop substantially when having to take maternity leave, as there is no legislation that makes employers pay female employees while on leave.

Maternity benefit payments are relative to a mother’s social insurance (PRSI) contributions – which differ from worker-to-worker.

Labour have promised to introduce a similar scheme that was included in Budget 2025 for the jobseekers’ allowance, where a sliding scale system softens the financial loss that workers face when they suddenly lose a job.

Changes to the jobseekers’ payment, which will come into effect in March, will see unemployed people receive 60% of their previous salary added to their benefit – to a maximum of €450 per week for the first three months.

Labour also pledged to offer workers a full year of paid parental leave.

Currently, new parents can take 46 weeks of paid family leave before the child’s 2nd birthday – 26 week’s maternity leave for the mother, two weeks paternity leave and nine weeks parent’s leave for both parents. Each week is paid at €272, increasing to €289 from January.

Elsewhere in the manifesto, the party said it will deliver housing for key workers in the public services – particularly in the country’s main cities.

Labour’s plans would start by identifying sites owned by the HSE where the land can be developed for housing. The party announced a similar plan yesterday for the Defence Forces.

Within the health service, the party plans to create 5,000 new beds in across national hospitals within five years. Labour also promised to introduce free GP care for all children.

Graduates from studies within the healthcare sector will have a guaranteed job under Labour’s plan and the party pledges to have safe staffing levels across the board. 

Two new departments would be established with Labour in Government – the Department of Digital Communications and a Department for Reunification. 

The former will be twinned with the Department of Further and Higher Education, with one minister, and focus on the EU’s digital transition and AI regulation. The latter will serve under the Department of the Taoiseach and explore reunification processes.