Six months’ paid maternity leave part of package

SIX months’ paid maternity leave for mothers is set to spearhead the Government’s drive to regain the initiative on childcare, it emerged last night.

The move is part of a package of proposals set to come before the Cabinet for approval and would cost €190 million over the first three years.

The present 18-week- entitlement allowed to mothers in the Republic lags well behind other EU nations as Britons enjoy 26 weeks and Finns nine months.