In Ireland, employees are entitled to a statutory minimum of four working weeks of paid annual leave per leave year under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The entitlement applies to full-time, part-time, fixed-term, and casual workers, with accrual based on hours worked.

Statutory entitlement

Four working weeks (20 days for a five-day worker), or 8% of hours worked in the leave year up to a maximum of four weeks, whichever is greater.

Eligibility

All employees accrue annual leave from the first day of employment. There is no minimum service requirement.

Employer obligations

  • Provide at least four weeks of paid annual leave per leave year (calculated 1 April to 31 March, or as set by the contract).
  • Pay annual leave at the employee's normal weekly rate, including regular allowances and a representative average of variable pay.
  • Allow at least two unbroken weeks of annual leave where the employee has worked at least eight months in the leave year.
  • Pay any accrued, untaken leave on termination of employment.
  • Keep accurate records of leave taken for at least three years (Workplace Relations Commission inspections).

Employee rights

  • Right to be paid at your normal weekly rate during leave, not the lower of two rates if pay varies.
  • Right to take an unbroken two-week block once you have worked eight months in the leave year.
  • Right to carry over leave that you could not take due to certified illness, for up to 15 months after the end of the leave year.
  • Right to compensation in lieu of untaken statutory leave on termination.

Common pitfalls

  • Calculating annual leave in calendar weeks instead of working weeks — a 'working week' means the days the employee normally works.
  • Forgetting that public holidays are a separate statutory entitlement; they do not count toward the four-week annual leave minimum.
  • Failing to include regular overtime, shift premia, or commission in holiday pay calculations.
  • Not allowing carry-over of statutory leave for employees on long-term certified sick leave.

How the four-week minimum works

Annual leave accrues at 8% of hours worked, capped at four working weeks per leave year. Employees who work at least 1,365 hours in a leave year qualify for the full four weeks regardless of the 8% cap. Part-time and irregular-hours employees use the 8% method.

Public holidays are separate

Ireland has 10 public holidays. Employees are entitled to a paid day off, a paid day off within a month, an extra day's pay, or an extra day of annual leave — at the employer's choice. This is in addition to the four-week annual leave entitlement.

Holiday pay for variable-hours workers

For employees whose pay varies, holiday pay is the average pay over the 13 weeks immediately before the leave is taken (excluding weeks of no pay). Regular bonuses, overtime, and shift premia must be included.

Frequently asked questions

How much annual leave am I entitled to in Ireland?

All employees are entitled to a minimum of four working weeks of paid annual leave per year, with no minimum service requirement. Many employers offer more than the statutory minimum by contract.

Do public holidays count as annual leave in Ireland?

No. Ireland's 10 public holidays are a separate statutory entitlement on top of the four-week annual leave minimum.

Can my employer refuse my annual leave request?

An employer can determine the timing of leave after consulting the employee at least one month in advance, but cannot deny the four-week statutory entitlement itself within the leave year.

Sources

This page is provided for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the cited primary source for current law before making employment decisions.