Ireland has been ranked as one of the worst countries in Europe for paid maternity leave.

According to employment platform Boundless, only Malta offers women a worse package than Ireland.

Bulgaria is the best country in Europe for paid maternity leave, followed Norway, Sweden and Finland.

The table notes that women in Ireland are offered 26 weeks of State-paid maternity leave at €245 per week.

In Bulgaria meanwhile, women are paid 90% of their salary for 58.6 weeks. With the mother consent, the leave can be transferred to the father once the child is six months old.

The payment is funded through the country’s National health Insurance Fund.

In Norway, women are paid their full salary for 49 weeks or 80% of their salary for 59 weeks.

In Sweden, it is 80% for 34 weeks and in Finland it is 90% for 29 weeks.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Labour spokesperson for employment affairs Marie Sherlock said the figures “come as no surprise at all”.

“We’ve known for a long time obviously that in many other countries, social welfare benefits are linked to the previous income of an individual,” she said. “We don’t have that same link in this country.

“So, if somebody does go out on Maternity leave and gets the €250 per week, they are suffering a significant fall-off in their earnings.

“Certainly at €250, it is a very low rate of maternity benefit. Of course, there are all the concerns that go from that in terms of the ability of people to be able to survive.”

The study notes that employers and governments share responsibility for maternity leave payments in many countries across Europe.