Social Welfare (No. 2) Act, 1985

Increase of maternity allowance.

5.— The Principal Act is hereby amended by the insertion after section 26 of the following section:

“Increase of maternity allowance.

26A—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the weekly rate of maternity benefit shall be increased by the appropriate amount set out in column (4), (4a), (5) or (5a) of Part I of the Second Schedule in respect of each qualified child who normally resides with the beneficiary.

(2) The increase payable pursuant to subsection (1) in respect of a qualified child who normally resides with the beneficiary and with the spouse of the beneficiary shall be payable at the rate of one-half of the appropriate amount in any case where the spouse of the beneficiary is not an adult dependant.

(3) The provisions of subsection (2) shall not apply in any case where the spouse of the beneficiary is living apart from the beneficiary and is not making a financial contribution to the maintenance of the qualified child.”.