Maternity Leave

Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Questions (111)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

111. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the position of his Department with respect to maternity and paternity leave where the parent has applied for such leave after securing a successful surrogacy arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14355/23]

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Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform

Maternity leave is granted to civil servants in accordance with the Maternity Protection Acts 1994 and 2004. The granting of maternity leave in the Civil Service is conditional on the employee being eligible for statutory maternity leave. The maternity protection legislation is under the remit of the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

The arrangements applying to civil servants in relation to paternity leave are as specified in the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016.

The Civil Service maternity leave circular and paternity leave circular are shared below for information.