Women's groups have welcomed Cabinet agreement to introduce extended maternity leave for women who have premature births.

Ministers signed off on the proposal to grant the extended rights to some 4,500 women every year who see their babies born early, but then see their social welfare benefits run out from that date.

Now, an extended period to include the weeks the baby was born before due date will be added to the statutory 26 weeks that all mothers are due.

Orla O’Connor, Director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland welcomed the announcement by Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty.

“As it stands, we know that mothers of premature babies have to return to work soon after their baby is home from hospital, so the extension of maternity leave... Read More