Health and Safety Regulations require your employer to assess the workplace for risks to pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding.  Where it is established that you are at risk if you continue to do your current job, and the risk cannot be eliminated through adjusting your work or changing working hours, and no suitable alternative work can be found, then you must be granted health and safety leave.

Health and safety leave ends when there is no longer a risk to your health and safety, when breast-feeding ceases (six months limit), or at the date of the expiry of a fixed term contract.

You are entitled to be paid by your employer for the first 21 days of this leave, which may arise in one continuous period or a number of shorter periods.

If you satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions you will be paid Health and Safety benefit by the Department of Social Protection.