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Maternity Protection Act, 1994 (No. 34)Introductory TextActs Referred toPart I Preliminary and General (ss. 1-6)1. Short title and commencement.2. Interpretation.3. Orders and regulations.4. Voidance or modification of certain provisions in agreements.5. Expenses.6. Repeal of 1981 Act, as amended.Part II Maternity Leave (ss. 7-16B)7. Interpretation of Part II.8. Entitlement to maternity leave.8A. Supplemental provisions relating to premature birth period9. Notification to employer.10. Allocation of minimum period of maternity leave.11. Variation in allocation of minimum period of maternity leave.12. Extension of maternity leave.13. Commencement of maternity leave (early confinement).13A. Additional provision for certain early confinement circumstances14. Entitlement to additional maternity leave.14A. Termination of additional maternity leave in event of sickness of mother.14B. Postponement of maternity leave or additional maternity leave in event of hospitalisation of child.14C. Postponement of maternity leave in event of serious health condition of relevant employee.15. Right to time off from work for antenatal or post-natal care.15A. Entitlement to time off from work to attend ante-natal classes.15B. Entitlement to time off from work or reduction of working hours for breastfeeding.16. Entitlement of employed father or other parent, as the case may be, to leave on death of mother.16A. Termination of leave in event of sickness of father or other parent.16B. Postponement of leave under section 16 in event of hospitalisation of child.Part III Leave to Protect Health and Safety of Pregnant Employees, etc. (ss. 17-20)17. Employees to whom Part III applies.18. Leave on health and safety grounds.19. Ending of leave under section 18 where no change of circumstances.20. Ending of leave under section 18 on change of circumstances.Part IV Employment Protection (ss. 21-29)21. Interpretation of Part IV.21A. Disapplication of sections 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 to member of local authority22. Preservation or suspension of certain rights, etc. while on protective leave, etc.23. Voidance of certain purported terminations of employment, etc.24. Extension of certain notices of termination of employment or of certain suspensions.25. Provisions regarding periods of probation, training and apprenticeship.26. General right to return to work on expiry of protective leave.27. Right to suitable alternative work in certain circumstances on return to work.28. Notification of intention to return to work.29. Postponement of return to work.Part V Resolution of Disputes (ss. 30-37)30. Reference of disputes to which Part V applies.30A. Disapplication of Part V to member of local authority31. Procedure for referral of disputes to rights commissioner.32. Decision under section 41 or 44 of Workplace Relations Act 2015.33. Appeal from decision of rights commissioner.33A. Burden of proof.34. Appeal to High Court on point of law.35. Service of documents.36. Provisions relating to winding up and bankruptcy.37. Enforcement of decisions and determinations.Part VI Amendments and Application of Other Enactments (ss. 38-41)40. Provisions applying where employee not permitted to return to work.39. Amendment of Schedule 3 to Redundancy Payments Act, 1967.38. Amendments relating to unfair dismissal.41. Protection of employee's rights on insolvency of employer.
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AI Summary of 15A. Entitlement to time off from work to attend ante-natal classes.

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Version status: In force | Document consolidation status: Updated to reflect all known changes
Version date: 18 October 2004 - onwards

15A. Entitlement to time off from work to attend ante-natal classes.

(1) Subject to subsection (3), a pregnant employee shall be entitled to time off from her work, without loss of pay, in accordance with regulations made under this section by the Minister, for the purpose of attending one set of ante-natal classes (other than the last 3 classes in such a set) and those classes may be attended by her during one or more pregnancies.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), an expectant father of a child (if he is employed under a contract of employment) shall be entitled once only to time off from his work, without loss of pay, in accordance with regulations made under this section by the Minister, for the purpose of attending the last 2 ante-natal classes in a set of such classes attended by the expectant mother of their child before the birth of the child.

(3) Subsection (1) or (2) shall not apply

(a) to a member of the Defence Forces who is

(i) on active service within the meaning of section 5 of the Defence Act 1954 or deemed to be on active service within the meaning of section 4(1) of the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960,

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