Special leave policies (unpaid)

Civil servants, may avail of up to six months of unpaid leave to deal with difficulties arising from the death or serious illness of an immediate relative and up to two months of unpaid leave to deal with other urgent domestic affairs.

Further information and information in relation to ‘How to Apply’ for this leave type can be found on the NSSO.gov.ie website.

Force Majeure and other urgent family reasons leave Circular 0005/2010

Civil servants may avail of up to ten years of unpaid leave to serve with the EU and up to five years unpaid leave to serve with an international organisation of which Ireland is a member.

Further information and information in relation to ‘How to Apply’ for these leave types can be found on the NSSO.gov.ie website.

Special Leave for appointment with international organisations Circular 0033/1991

Civil servants may avail of up to one year of unpaid leave for charitable or cultural work in Ireland, and up to five years for humanitarian emergencies and development work overseas.

Further information and information in relation to ‘How to Apply’ for this leave type can be found on the NSSO.gov.ie website.

Special Leave Circular 0002/1976

Special leave without pay up to a maximum period of five years may be allowed to civil servants in order to accompany a spouse who is working abroad. Such cases normally involve officers whose spouses are also civil servants (or who are employed in other areas of the public sector) and who have either been posted abroad or who have secured appointments with the EU or other international organisations of which Ireland is a member.

Further information and information in relation to ‘How to Apply’ for this leave type can be found on the NSSO.gov.ie website.

Circular 28/1991: Special Leave for Domestic Purposes