There was good news for expecting parents today as the Government have officially agreed to extend maternity leave and benefits to cover cases of premature births.
The new proposal will now mean that parents will be entitled to take leave earlier if they require to do so and claim their entitlements which will be added to the initial 26 week leaving period when it has expired.
It is understood the motion was passed after the Minister for Employment and Social Protection Regina Doherty lobbied the proposal before the Cabinet this morning.
Announcing the motion a number of months back Ms Doherty said the Government must look to change the current maternity leave situation as parents of premature babies go through a deeply stressful time during this period and therefore they need to spend as much time with their baby a possible.