Qualifying for Maternity Benefit

Unemployed and pregnant. If I can get some work which ceases within 16 days of due date, I could qualify for Maternity benefit ( I fulfill all other criteria, prsi etc)

Is there a number of days/weeks/months I need to be in employment for?

What constitutes a prsi contribution?

From welfare.ie, but doesnt answer my question

• be in insurable employment that is covered by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994 immediately before the first day of maternity leave. The last day of insurable employment must be within 16 weeks of the end of the week your baby is due. If you cease employment your maternity leave must start from the following day,
  and
• satisfy certain PRSI contribution conditions.

From the welfare.ie page on Maternity Benefit - the last sentence may answer your PRSI contribution question:

Maternity Benefit is paid by the Department of Social Protection to women who have a certain number of paid PRSI contributions on their social insurance record and who are in insurable employment up to the first day of their maternity leave. The last day of work can be within 16 weeks of the end of the week your baby is due.
The PRSI contributions can be from employment or self-employment - PRSI classes that count for Maternity Benefit are A, E, H and S (self-employed).

Taken from : http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Schemes/BirthChildrenAndFamilies/MaternityBenefit/Pages/mb.aspx

Generally, for each week you work, you pay a PRSI contribution

You can find more information on PRSI here : http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Topics/PRSI/Pages/prsiexp.aspx

So a prsi contribution is only paid after a full weeks work?

If I worked 2/3 days?

No, it doesn't have to be a full week - it can be less. Once you pay PRSI for your 2/3 days, then you get one PRSI contribution for that week.

Class A rate of PRSI is paid on any earnings over E38.00 per week, so if you work 2 or 3 days you will be earning more than E38.00 and therefore entitled to a class A contribution