The Government is considering extending paid maternity leave by up to six weeks as part of a package of Budget measures to tackle the childcare crisis.
The move would bring to 20 the number of paid weeks a mother could take off after giving birth.
A mother can also take a further four weeks' unpaid maternity leave, plus up to three months' unpaid leave under the Parental Leave Act before her child is five years old.
The Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, gave a strong signal that maternity leave would be extended in the Budget, in an address to the Dublin North Central selection convention last night.
Stressing the need to put in place "family-friendly" policies to allow people combine work and family life, he said: "That is why we introduced a carers' leave and benefit in the last budget so that people can take time off work to care for a loved one. That is why we are looking at extending maternity leave so that mothers can spend more time with their children at that crucial time."
A Government source told The Irish Times that an inter-departmental review of maternity leave is under way and should be completed shortly. It is hoped that arising from the review, measures to increase maternity leave will be announced in the December Budget.
The cost of the move is being assessed by officials in the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Mr Ahern said he was very conscious that because of inflation people on fixed incomes have not benefited from last year's budget. "Between now and the Budget I can guarantee that this issue will be at the top of the Government's agenda.
"Despite the fact that we have given record increases in social welfare and major cuts in taxes, there are many people who feel they have not benefited from the Celtic Tiger, people who feel that their quality of life has not improved."
Mr Ahern said he expected to see major progress in the Budget towards taking the elderly and those on the minimum wage out of the tax net, and towards ensuring 80 per cent of taxpayers do not pay tax at the higher rate.
"Our first priority must be to the people who are still living in consistent poverty. Although there has been a dramatic fall in the numbers, which are now less than one in 10, any level of consistent poverty is unacceptable in our society."
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, said last night the party must address the challenges that further economic growth will bring.
Speaking on the eve of the special two-day Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party meeting in Kilkenny, Dr O'Hanlon said an economic miracle had been born in the country.
He said we must "foster and care for it to ensure that it continues to deliver a republican society caring for the less well off and the elderly".