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Statutory and non-statutory leave entitlements for teachers, special needs assistants (SNAs) and other education sector staff are listed below.
Adoptive Leave is a statutory leave of absence granted to employees who are adopting mothers or sole male adopters, commencing on the date of placement of the child with the adopting teacher.
Statutory Annual Leave and Public Holiday entitlement is regulated by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.
A brief or short leave of absence from school for various circumstances and situations which may arise throughout the school year, for example, for reasons of bereavement, force majeure, testifying as a witness in court and so on. Such absences can be paid or unpaid / substitutable or non-substitutable.
A Career Break is a period of special leave without pay for a specific purpose, for a period of not less than 1 school year.
Carer’s Leave is a statutory leave of absence to allow an employee a period of unpaid leave in order that they may provide full-time care and attention to a relevant person.
An employer may grant special leave with pay to an employee where appropriate medical or HSE confirmation of COVID-19 diagnosis or recommendation to self-isolate is provided, in accordance with the HSE Guidelines.
Under rule 58 of the Rules for National Schools, primary teachers are entitled to Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) Leave on foot of attending approved summer courses.
The purpose of the Job Sharing Scheme is to assist employees in combining work commitments and personal responsibilities and choices.
Leave of absence may be granted to an employee who is unable to perform his/her duties due to a physical injury following an assault in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.
A pregnant employee who gives birth to a living child is entitled to 26 weeks statutory paid Maternity Leave and up to a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks statutory additional unpaid Maternity Leave.
Parent’s Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to the relevant parent to enable him/her to provide, or assist in the provision of, care to the child.
Parental Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to an employee for the purpose of caring for their child.
Paternity Leave is a statutory period of 2 consecutive weeks to allow the relevant parent paid leave to provide, or assist in, the care of the child or to provide support to the mother or adopting parent of the child as the case may be, or both.
Voluntary secondary and community and comprehensive school management may grant special leave to a teacher for up to five school days in a school year for any reason which they may consider sufficient. Substitute cover is not paid by the Department of Education.
Sick Leave may be granted to an employee who is unable to perform his/her duties because of illness or injury.
Unpaid Leave may be granted in exceptional circumstances where the employer is satisfied that there is a compelling obligation involving absence from duty.
Special Leave with pay may be granted to a teacher who is a member of a voluntary search and rescue organisation called out on a search and rescue operation.
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