Published on
Last updated on
Please find detailed below leave entitlements for school secretaries employed in approved posts funded by monies provided by the Oireachtas and who are covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement and the terms of Circular 36/2022.
Entitlement to Adoptive Leave is regulated by the Adoptive Leave Act 1995, as amended.
Adoptive Leave is a statutory leave of absence granted to employees who are qualifying adopters, commencing on the date of placement of the child with the qualifying adopter. It consists of a period of 24 consecutive weeks statutory paid leave and up to a maximum of 16 consecutive weeks statutory additional unpaid leave.
For further information on Adoptive Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Three of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Statutory Annual Leave and Public Holiday entitlement is regulated by the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 (as amended).
In general, a full-time secretary has entitlement to 22 days Annual Leave in each leave year. Part time secretaries annual leave is calculated on a pro rata basis.
For further information on Annual Leave/ Public Holiday entitlement for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Nine of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Entitlement to Carer’s Leave is regulated by Carer’s Leave Act, 2001, as amended.
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.
For further information on Carer’s Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Seven of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Domestic Violence Leave is regulated by the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
Domestic Violence Leave may be granted by the employer to a school secretary who is a victim of domestic violence or where a school secretary is providing support to a relevant person.
For further information on Domestic Violence leave for school secretaries, please refer to Circular 0015/2024 titled - Domestic Violence Leave for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Under the Parental Leave Act 1998 and the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006, a school secretary is entitled to apply for Force Majeure Leave, which is statutory special leave with pay, for urgent family reasons. A qualifying school secretary may be entitled to 3 days in a 12 month period or 5 days in 36 months.
For further information on Force Majeure leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Eight of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Entitlement to Maternity Leave is regulated by the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, as amended.
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. In the event of a premature birth, the employee may also be entitled to Extended Maternity Leave for Premature Birth.
For further information on Maternity Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Two of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Please also see Information Note TC/IN 0014/2024 which details an amendment to the Maternity Leave Scheme for School Secretaries
Entitlement to Parent’s Leave is regulated by the Parents Leave and Benefit Act, 2019 as amended.
Parent’s Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to the relevant parent to enable them to provide, or assist in the provision of, care to the child. Parent’s Leave must be taken within 24 months from the date of birth of the child or in the case of adoption, the day of placement of the child.
For further information on Parents Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Four of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Please also see Information Note TC/IN 0007/2024 which details amendments to the Parents Leave Scheme for School Secretaries
Entitlement to Paternity Leave is regulated by the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act, 2016
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.
For further information on Paternity leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Five of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Please also see Information Note TC/IN 0015/2024 which details an amendment to the Paternity Leave Scheme for School Secretaries
Entitlement to Parental Leave is regulated by the Parental Leave Act, 1998 as amended.
Parental Leave is a period of statutory unpaid leave available to an employee for the purpose of caring for their child. A school secretary is entitled up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 16 years.
For further information on Parental Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter Six of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
From 1st January 2023, an employee has entitlement under the Sick Leave Act 2022 to paid sick leave.
For further information on Sick Leave for school secretaries, please refer to Chapter One of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Unpaid Leave may be granted to a school secretary at the discretion of their employer. The maximum amount of Unpaid Leave which may be taken in a school year is 5 school days.
For further information on Unpaid Leave for a school secretary, please refer to Chapter Ten of Circular 0007/2024 - Leave Entitlements for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation Commission (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools
Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes is regulated by the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes may be granted by the employer to a school secretary to provide personal care or support to an eligible person for a serious medical reason.
For further information on Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes for a school secretary, please refer to Circular 0016/2024 titled - Unpaid Leave for Medical Care Purposes for School Secretaries covered by the terms of the 2022 Workplace Relation (WRC) Agreement, employed in Recognised Primary and Voluntary Secondary and Community and Comprehensive Schools