Mothers should receive pay-related maternity benefit, social protection minister says
Related Part Maternity Gael's Pay Manifesto Said Should Heather For Benefit Of Election Humphreys Fine General
Pay-related maternity benefit should form part of Fine Gael’s general election manifesto, Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys has said.
The Fine Gael deputy leader said linking maternity benefit to income would not be carried out by the current Government, but that it was something that should be looked at after the next general election.
“I do believe that down the road that we certainly should be looking at pay-related maternity benefit,” Ms Humphreys said.
Ms Humphreys said that she felt “very strongly” about the matter.
“It’s about supporting the women of Ireland who take time off and that they don’t have this sudden drop in their income whenever they go on maternity leave,” Ms Humphreys said.
“It’s about supporting women in the workforce and also when they take maternity leave. I do feel very strongly about it and I hope it is in the manifesto.”
The proposal, which was first floated by the minister in May, was described as the “logical next step” as Ireland prepares to roll out pay-related social welfare benefits for individuals who lose their jobs.
This new plan will provide jobseekers with up to €450 a week in welfare payments, or 60% of their previous salary, on a sliding scale depending on how many years of PRSI payments they have made.
For individuals who have between two and five years of PRSI contributions, they will be able to receive 50% of their previous earnings, up to a €300 maximum, for six months.
After six months of higher benefit levels, they will then be reduced to the standard jobseekers allowance.
Ms Humphreys also confirmed the free travel pass is to be extended to any person who is deemed to be medically unfit to drive.
Speaking to reporters at Connolly Station, Ms Humphreys confirmed anyone who is unable to drive due to a disability, or drivers with a licence that are medically certified as not fit to drive for a period of 12 months or longer will get free travel.
This is the first time the free travel pass has been extended beyond individuals who receive either a pension or a qualifying social welfare payment.
The pass itself allows individuals to use all forms of State-provided public transport, as well as some selected private bus and ferry operators.
Meanwhile, Ms Humphrey's defended her decision to only sign regulations to introduce means-testing for asylum seeker payments in May, despite the plans being drawn up years earlier.
Ms Humphreys cited both the pandemic and war in Ukraine as the reason the regulations were not signed, saying there were “a lot of things that happened in the Department of Social Protection”, highlighting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment in particular.
“When it was brought to my attention, I immediately signed the regulations and since then 5,000 payments have been stopped and as and from now it’s means-tested.
Ms Humphreys said the issue primarily impacted asylum seekers who were living in Ipas accommodation and working full time, as they also received €38 a week.