46,000 hit with €30 maternity cut

Almost 46,000 mothers will have weekly maternity benefit payments reduced by €30 under cuts announced by Social Protection Minister Joan Burton.

The minister defended the changes, insisting that Ireland had a generous maternity benefit system. She also said a small number paying low amounts of PRSI would actually see their payments increase.

As part of her €226m package of cuts, the minister will reduce maternity benefit payments from €262 a week to €230. It is expected to affect nearly all claimants which amounts, on average, to nearly 46,000 mothers yearly, her department confirmed.