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PAID MATERNITY LEAVE has been extended in cases where a baby is born prematurely.
Up until now, mothers in Ireland were entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave and 16 weeks unpaid leave from the date of the birth of their child.
This meant that for some mothers of premature babies, their leave could be almost used up by the time they get their baby home from hospital.
However under the new arrangements, mothers of premature babies will be entitled to an additional period of paid maternity leave.
The additional period will be the number of weeks from the premature baby’s date of birth up to two weeks before the expected date of birth – which would have be the 37th week of the pregnancy.
This additional period will be added to the mother’s normal entitlement to 26 weeks of maternity leave and benefit.
The new measure takes effect for premature babies born on or after Sunday 1 October.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty and the Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan jointly announced this new measure.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty welcomed the measure saying:
The government is acutely aware of the many pressures that families with pre-term babies face and this new measure to extend maternity leave and benefit will ensure additional support for families at a time when nurturing a new life can be daunting and stressful.
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan said: “There are strong compassionate and practical reasons to make specific provisions for additional maternity leave and benefit where babies are born prematurely.”
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A bit of social progress and justice finally.
This is a fantastic step forward. I remember well sitting by the incubator while phoning HR to inform them I had given birth prematurely & spending half of the leave in Hospital and the other half up & down to outpatients appointments in Drogheda
Well done to the Green Party for putting this on the agenda, and to the Government for accepting their proposals and making it a reality. Will make a huge difference to a lot of people.
It’s a pity there wasn’t the inclusion of mothers who give birth to disabled babies.
@Catherine Sims: yes, please fight for that.
@Catherine Sims: Yea. It’d be great if it was extended to fathers too given how worrying having a premature baby can be.
A bit odd the Minister for Children isn’t involved in this announcement
@lavbeer: she’s too busy promoting abortion
@Hurt Stoogie: Are you a bit Butt Hurt Stoogie?
@lavbeer: It’s because it’s a Social Protection/welfare issue for the benefit side, and the Minister for Justice on the leave side. It’s odd but nothing to do with Dept of Children
@Gavin Nugent: Only in jest – I get that. Probably a bit young for her anyway (in jest again if course .. lol)
Though I dislike that woman’s route into work and the thieving of the country of funds
@Hurt Stoogie: don’t be silly…pro choice has to be the result of a referendum…it has nothing to do with the survival of premature babies and their mothers rights to an extended leave
@catherine sims is there not dca and carers benefit for people caring for a disabled child ? Or in the case of a disabled / sick child in hospital, i’m sure stress would be enough to allow the parent to go out on illness benefit.
What about the dads?
have your say