A Laois councillor will have no option but to continue her duties when her first baby arrives in December.
A government minister admits county councillors will not be able to avail of any maternity leave this year.
Laois councillor Thomasina Connell - who's expecting her first child - is hoping to avail of a new law which would allow her to nominate an administrator to provide support or a substitute.
But the Fine Gael rep accepts she's likely to have to continue her duties, given the new legislation for councillors has yet to be passed.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohue says, while the legislation is overdue, its arrival can't be confirmed just yet:
Enterprise Department Confirms Over 80 Westmeath Jobs At Risk
Offaly Teacher Pays Tribute To Colleagues After Winning STEM Award
Asthma Society of Ireland Hold Workshop In Laois This Weekend
Laois TD Calls For Shorter Ambulance Deployment Distance
Uisce Eireann Publish Shannon Pipeline Consultation Submissions Report
70% Of Farming Families Lack Succession Plan
Mental Health Charity Triple Counselling Sessions After Citywest Protests
Westmeath Library To Close For Three Months From Today
Drug Usage On The Rise In The Midlands
Shannon Callows Farmers Demand Inclusion In Flood Management Group
Offaly Teachers Win National STEM Award
Appeal Lodged Against 600 Acre Laois Solar Farm Project
Government Funding To Benefit Midlands Historical Structures
Former GAA Referee Pleads Guilty To Indecent Assault
Laois TD Warns EU Plans Threaten Irish Neutrality
Almost One Million Cigarettes Seized In Offaly
Management Can Easily End Industrial Action - SIPTU
Westmeath Credit Union Manager Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
Midlands Readers Encouraged To Take Part in MS Readathon