Higher maternity benefit could follow as unemployment benefit to be linked to previous pay under new laws

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Senan Molony

Pay-linked maternity benefit is the "logical next step" to supporting workers when out of the labour force, Heather Humphreys said today. The comments raise the prospect of direct payments which would be double the current levels of subvention - or more.

A pregnant woman eligible for the benefit is paid €274 per week for 26 weeks, half a year, excluding Sundays.