It is the announcement mums of premature babies have been fighting for - today the Government will agree to extend maternity benefit paid by the state for the time between the actual birth and when the leave would have started. 

 

The initiative - recommended by the Green Party - will benefit around 4,500 mums every year. 

 

As it stands, maternity leave is 26 weeks. This change in the system would see the additional weeks added onto the end of the 26-week timeline. 

 

Premature babies are defined as those born at less than 37 weeks gestation according to the National Perinatal Reporting System. 

 

The new extended maternity leave is being brought to cabinet today but will take effect from 1st October 2017. 

 

In some further good news for Irish couples, the Health Minister is expected to give the green light to drafting proposals to allow state funding for fertility treatment for those who can't afford it. 

 

The Assisted Human reproduction legislation hopes to bring some more regulation to the sector. The Irish Examiner reports that the timeline for this is likely to be 2019. 

 

It's estimated that one in six couples in Ireland struggle with infertility.

 

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