Mothers who fall ill during maternity leave will soon be able to reclaim their “lost” time off from work.

Equality minister Roderic O’Gorman is bringing forward proposals to provide for a deferral of maternity leave, or any portion thereof.

It will apply where a mother falls ill, either while pregnant or during maternity leave. And post-partum depression could be an allowable condition.

This will also include extending the entitlement to parent’s (paid) leave from August 1 this year. It will go from seven weeks to nine weeks, to be taken in the first few years of life.

There have been significant developments in entitlement to leave for working families in recent years.

Parent’s leave and benefit currently provides seven weeks’ paid leave for each parent, to be taken within a child’s first two years. This will now extend to nine weeks this summer.

Minister O’Gorman says he is committed to supporting working parents, “and those who are breastfeeding, in particular.” The Work Life Balance Act 2023 last year included amendments to the Maternity Protection Acts.

The changes provide for the extension of breastfeeding breaks for employees to two years after the birth of their child, which may not be refused by any workplace.

The Act also introduces five days’ leave for medical care purposes for parents of children under 12, and for carers. It also provides for a right to request flexible working for parents and carers.

The right to request remote working for all employees, was commenced on in March this year following the preparation of a Code of Practice by the Workplace Relations Commission.

Statutory domestic violence leave was also introduced, making Ireland one of the first countries to grant such an authorised absence, intended to help a person relocate to a place of safety.

Victims of domestic violence are entitled to five days’ leave over a period of a year, and is to be paid at 100pc of the employee’s normal pay, to ensure their economic situation will not be altered.