Having a baby in Ireland: the whole system, in order

Your care is free, your leave is protected and most of the paperwork starts itself once the birth is registered. Here is how the pieces fit together, with every figure checked on the official page.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

In Ireland, maternity care is free under the HSE Maternity and Infant Care Scheme if you live here. Employees get 26 weeks of maternity leave plus 16 unpaid weeks, with Maternity Benefit of €299 a week as of October 2026. Partners get 2 weeks of paternity leave, each parent 9 weeks of parent's leave, and Child Benefit is €140 a month.

The five systems, in one table

Most of the confusion for new parents in Ireland comes from mixing up five separate systems. Once you know who does what, the rest is a list of steps.

What	Who runs it	Our guide
Pregnancy care, the birth, postnatal checks	The HSE, through the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme	The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme
Time off work around the birth	Your employer, under employment law	Maternity leave in Ireland, paternity leave, parent's leave
Weekly payments during leave	Department of Social Protection, if your PRSI qualifies	Maternity Benefit
Your baby's legal papers and PPS number	HSE Civil Registration Service and the General Register Office	Registering a birth and getting the certificate
Monthly and weekly family payments	Department of Social Protection	Child Benefit and the New Baby Grant, Working Family Payment

The key figures, as of October 2026

	Amount or length	Source
Maternity care (public)	Free under the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme	HSE, Citizens Information
Maternity leave	26 weeks plus up to 16 unpaid weeks	Citizens Information
Maternity Benefit	€299 a week for 26 weeks (rising by €10 from January 2027)	Citizens Information
Paternity leave and benefit	2 weeks, €299 a week	Citizens Information
Parent's leave and benefit	9 weeks per parent before the child turns 2, €299 a week	Citizens Information
Child Benefit	€140 a month per child	Citizens Information
New Baby Grant	€280 per child, paid once with the first Child Benefit payment	Citizens Information
Registering the birth	Free, within 3 months	Citizens Information
Full birth certificate	€20	Citizens Information

In order: what to do, and when

As soon as you have a positive test: see your GP, who applies for the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme with you. You need your PPSN.
8 to 12 weeks: booking visit at the maternity unit or hospital, with bloods and a dating scan (offered before 15 weeks).
18 to 22 weeks: fetal anatomy scan, offered as part of standard care (ask your hospital whether it offers it to everyone).
From 16 weeks: whooping cough vaccine (16 to 36 weeks), flu vaccine in flu season.
At least 6 weeks before your leave (12 if self-employed): apply for Maternity Benefit on MyWelfare.ie.
At least 4 weeks before your leave: written notice to your employer. Your partner gives 4 weeks' notice of paternity leave too.
2 weeks before the end of your due week at the latest: your maternity leave starts.
After the birth: public health nurse home visit, heel prick test, GP checks at 2 and 6 weeks.
Within 3 months: register the birth. Your baby's PPS number and your Child Benefit claim follow automatically.
In the first 2 years: each parent can take 9 weeks of parent's leave with Parent's Benefit.

Public, semi-private or private?

All three are available, and the HSE advises registering for the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme whichever you choose. Public care is free; semi-private care exists only in Dublin maternity hospitals and carries a fee; private care is available in every maternity hospital, with a consultant's fee and a hospital fee. The full comparison is in our guide to the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme.

Childcare when you go back to work

The National Childcare Scheme helps with the cost of a Tusla-registered childcare provider for children from 6 months (24 weeks) to under 15. As of October 2026, the universal subsidy is €2.14 an hour for up to 45 hours a week whatever your income, and an income-assessed subsidy is available for families with income below €68,000. You apply online on the NCS website with a verified MyGovID and your child's PPS number. If your household income is low, check the Working Family Payment too.

When to call

In an emergency, call 112 or 999. Contact your maternity unit straight away if your baby's movements slow down, change or stop, if your waters break before labour, or if you think labour is starting before 37 weeks. Severe headache, vision problems, pain under the ribs or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet need an urgent call to your GP or midwife, in pregnancy and in the 6 weeks after the birth.

Postnatal depression affects 10 to 15% of women in the first year after birth, according to Citizens Information. Talk to your public health nurse or GP. Samaritans answer 24 hours a day on 116 123, and you can text HELLO to 50808 at any time.

All our Ireland guides

Maternity leave in Ireland: how long, when to start, and your rights26 weeks plus 16 unpaid weeks, the notice rules and your right to your job.Maternity Benefit in Ireland: how much, who qualifies, how to apply€299 a week for 26 weeks if your PRSI qualifies, with the forms and deadlines.Paternity leave and Paternity Benefit in Ireland2 weeks off in the first 6 months, with €299 a week if your PRSI qualifies.Parent's leave and Parent's Benefit in Ireland9 paid weeks for each parent before your child turns 2, and how it differs from parental leave.Registering a birth in Ireland and getting the birth certificateRegister within 3 months, free: your baby's PPSN and Child Benefit follow automatically.Child Benefit and the New Baby Grant in Ireland€140 a month per child, plus a one-off €280 New Baby Grant, mostly automatic.The Maternity and Infant Care Scheme: free maternity care in IrelandFree GP and hospital care in pregnancy, the birth and the 6-week checks, and how to register.Working Family Payment in Ireland: limits, amounts and maternity leaveA weekly, tax-free top-up for working parents on lower pay, with the 2026 income limits.

The whole system in one book

If you would rather have everything in one place, with a month-by-month checklist, a family leave planner, sample notice letters and pages to fill in, our Having a Baby in Ireland guide gathers every step above with its official source. The free guides on this page give you all the essentials either way.

Questions parents ask

Is giving birth free in Ireland?

Yes, for public patients. If you live in Ireland or intend to live here for at least a year, the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme covers your antenatal care, the birth and postnatal care, with no hospital charges. Semi-private and private care involve fees.

How long is maternity leave in Ireland?

26 weeks, plus up to 16 weeks of additional unpaid leave. Maternity Benefit of €299 a week (as of October 2026) is paid for the 26 weeks if you have enough PRSI contributions.

What do I need to do after the birth?

Register the birth within 3 months. That gives your baby a PPS number and starts your Child Benefit claim automatically, then you can order the birth certificate.

Sources

Citizens Information — Maternity and infant care services checked October 13, 2026
Citizens Information — Maternity Benefit (rate 2026, Budget 2027) checked October 13, 2026
Citizens Information — Parent's leave (comparison of all leave types) checked October 13, 2026
Citizens Information — Child Benefit and New Baby Grant checked October 13, 2026
Citizens Information — Registering the birth of your baby checked October 13, 2026
HSE — Going public (what the Maternity and Infant Care Scheme includes) checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.