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:
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