How long does maternity leave last in Ireland?

If you become pregnant while you are working in Ireland, you are entitled to take maternity leave.

Your entitlement to maternity leave lasts for 26 weeks, together with 16 weeks’ additional unpaid maternity leave.

Employers are not obliged to pay women on maternity leave. You may qualify for Maternity Benefit, which is a Department of Social Protection payment based on PRSI contributions. Maternity Benefit is not payable during the 16 weeks’ additional leave.

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What are my entitlements under the Maternity Protection Act?

The Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004 entitle a pregnant employee to 26 consecutive weeks maternity leave. If a woman takes maternity leave, she must take a minimum of 2 weeks leave before the last day of her expected week of confinement. She must also take a minimum of four weeks leave after the last day of her expected week of confinement. In addition to maternity leave and additional maternity leave, the Acts also cover a range of issues including: time off for ante-natal and postnatal medical visits; the right to return to work All employees who have taken maternity leave are entitled to take an additional 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave. This is also known as 'unpaid leave'. This leave must commence immediately after maternity leave has ended. In order to avail of additional maternity leave, a woman must notify her employer in writing a minimum of four weeks before the additional maternity leave is due to commence. Available from the Equality Authority is a brochure outlining entitlements under the Acts - About the Maternity Protection Acts, 1994 and 2004. The full text of this brochure can be downloaded from the Equality Authority's website : click here. Alternatively you can contact the Equality Authority or email info@equality.ie, write to the Equality Authority, Clonmel Street, Dublin 2 or by telephone on 01- 417 3333

How is my Maternity Benefit Calculated?

If you are employed, your weekly rate of Maternity Benefit is calculated by dividing your gross income in the relevant tax year by the number of weeks you actually worked in that year. Eighty percent (80%) of this amount is payable weekly, subject to a minimum payment and a maximum payment. (The Relevant Tax Year is the second last complete income tax year before the year in which your maternity leave starts.

Rates of payment from January 2010:

Maternity Benefit     Weekly rate

Maximum payment       €270
Minimum payment        €225.80

Maternity Benefit

Maternity Benefit is a payment made to women on who are maternity leave from work and covered by social insurance (PRSI). You should apply for the payment 6 weeks before you intend to go on maternity leave (12 weeks if you are self-employed). The amount of money paid to you each week will depend on your earnings. If you are already on certain social welfare payments then you will get half-rate Maternity Benefit.

Maternity Benefit is paid directly to you on a weekly basis into your bank or building society account. Some employers will continue to pay an employee, in full, while she is on maternity leave and require her to have any Maternity Benefit paid to them. You should check your contract of employment to see what applies to you. Maternity Benefit is a tax-free payment. Revenue will inform you how Maternity Benefit is treated for tax purposes.

Maternity Benefit is paid for 26 weeks. At least 2 weeks and not more than 16 weeks leave must be taken before the end of the week in which your baby is due.

If your baby is born later than expected and you have less than 4 weeks maternity leave left, you may be entitled to extend your maternity leave to ensure that you have a full 4 weeks off following the week of the birth. In these circumstances Maternity Benefit will continue to be paid to you until the baby is 4 weeks old.