A new study has ranked Ireland as one of the worst countries for paid Maternity Leave.
The research, carried out by Boundless, showed Ireland among those offering the lowest pay in Europe.
Joining the Emerald Isle at the bottom of the table is the UK while Bulgaria was noted as having Europe's best maternity package.
In Ireland, as an employee, you have the right to take 26 weeks of maternity leave if you become pregnant, whereas in Bulgaria women are offered 58.6 weeks.
In Ireland, you have the right to take up to 16 weeks of additional maternity leave, which is still 16 weeks less than the best ranked.
In line with these statistics, here is everything a working woman in Ireland is entitled to while pregnant, and then on maternity leave:
You can take Maternity Leave time off work from full-time, casual, or part-time employment in this country - it does not matter how long you have been working for your employer.
Under the rules, a mother must take at least 2 weeks of maternity leave before her baby is due, and at least 4 weeks after the baby is born.
If you have enough PRSI contributions, you are entitled to Maternity benefits (including self-employed) for the 26 weeks of basic maternity leave.
However, Maternity Benefit does not cover additional maternity leave.
During pregnancy
While you are pregnant, you can take time off for medical visits associated with your pregnancy.
You can also take as much time off as you need for these visits, including the time for travelling to and from the appointment.
You have to give your employer a note from your doctor to confirm the pregnancy and give 2 weeks’ notice for each of your medical visits.
You can also take time off for medical visits, for up to 14 weeks after the birth and you have the right to be paid while keeping these medical appointments, both before and after the birth.
You can take paid time off work to attend one set of antenatal classes except for the last 3 classes of the set.
Social welfare
Expectant mothers in Ireland may be able to get Maternity benefits from the Department of Social Protection as long as they have enough PRSI contributions.
In general, in Ireland employers do not have to pay women who are on maternity leave.
You will have to check your contract of employment to see whether you are entitled to pay and pension contributions from your employer during your maternity leave.
Maternity leave rules
There are specific conditions to adhere to leading up to and during Maternity leave in Ireland including:
- You must take at least 2 weeks’ maternity leave before the end of the week that your baby is due
- You must start your maternity leave on the Monday before the week in which your baby is due, at the latest
- You should apply to your employer in writing at least 4 weeks before you want to start maternity leave
- You should apply for Maternity Benefit to the Maternity Benefit Section of the DSP at least 6 weeks before you intend to go on maternity leave
- You can take additional maternity leave for up to 16 more weeks, beginning immediately after the end of your 26 weeks’ basic maternity leave.
If your baby is born before the date when you are due to start maternity leave, you can take extra maternity leave.
You get 26 weeks’ leave, starting from the day your baby is born, plus extra leave for the number of weeks between your baby’s actual date of birth and the date you had planned to start your maternity leave. Maternity Benefit is payable for the whole of this extended maternity leave.
If you have a stillbirth or miscarriage at any time after the 24th week of pregnancy, or your baby has a birth weight of at least 500 grammes, you are entitled to full maternity leave.
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