Ireland
Complete guide to Irish employee leave entitlements including 20 days annual leave, statutory sick pay, maternity, paternity, and parent's leave.
20
Annual leave
10
Public holidays
country
Location type
2025-01-15
Reviewed
Legal framework
Primary legislation
Governing body
Last updated
Official source
Entitlements overview
Annual leave
Statutory entitlement: 20
Calculation: 4 working weeks per year. Part-time: 8% of hours worked.
Pro-rata: Pro-rata for part-year service. 8% of hours worked for part-time.
Carryover: Must be taken within 6 months of following leave year
Sick leave
Statutory: Yes
Paid days: 5
Statutory pay: 70% of normal wages, up to €110/day
Eligibility: 13 weeks continuous service, Medical certificate required
Parental leave
Maternity: 26 weeks + 16 weeks unpaid
Paternity: 2 weeks
Adoption: 24 weeks
Shared leave: 9 weeks each parent
Additional leave and compliance
Other leave types
Parent's Leave: 9 weeks per parent (paid)
Unpaid Parental Leave: 26 weeks per child (unpaid)
Carer's Leave: Up to 104 weeks (unpaid)
Force Majeure Leave: 3 days in 12 months (5 in 36 months) (paid)
Domestic Violence Leave: 5 days (paid)
Record keeping and notice
Records: Maintain records for 3 years
Penalties: WRC can award up to 2 years' pay for breaches
Public holiday sample
New Year's Day: 2025-01-01
St Brigid's Day: 2025-02-03
St Patrick's Day: 2025-03-17
Easter Monday: 2025-04-21
May Day: 2025-05-05
June Bank Holiday: 2025-06-02
Frequently asked questions
How much annual leave do Irish employees get?
Irish employees are entitled to 4 weeks (20 working days) of paid annual leave per year. Part-time workers receive 8% of hours worked.
How does statutory sick pay work in Ireland?
From 2024, employees get 5 days statutory sick pay at 70% of wages (max €110/day). This increases to 7 days in 2025 and 10 days in 2026. You need 13 weeks continuous service.
What is Parent's Leave in Ireland?
Parent's Leave gives each parent 9 weeks of leave (with Parent's Benefit of €274/week) in the first 2 years of a child's life. This is separate from maternity, paternity, and unpaid parental leave.
Related policy guides
United Kingdom (England)
Complete guide to UK employee leave entitlements including statutory annual leave, sick pay (SSP), maternity, paternity, and shared parental leave.
United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)
Complete guide to Northern Ireland employee leave entitlements. Different bank holidays and some variations from England.
United Kingdom (Scotland)
Complete guide to Scotland employee leave entitlements. Same statutory rights as England plus Scottish bank holidays.