Frequently asked questions
There has been a death in my family – what leave is available?
Bereavement leave is taken on consecutive days, excluding weekends and public holidays.
Bereavement leave is substitutable.
What leave is available following a miscarriage?
If you were more than 23 weeks pregnant; or if your baby had a birth weight of at least 400 grams; or if your baby was born alive, you will be entitled to your full maternity leave, including unpaid maternity leave.
I need to attend a medical appointment – what leave is available?
Evidence of your appointments should be provided to your school to support your absence, and this can be recorded as certified sick leave on the OLCS.
Am I entitled to leave work early to attend a medical appointment?
Some schools may facilitate teachers who need to be absent for an hour or two, but this is not an entitlement in your terms and conditions and a partial absence cannot be formally recorded.
I am undergoing fertility treatment and will need leave to attend appointments – how is this leave recorded?
Sick leave may be taken for the purpose of “obtaining medical-related services (eg Doctor/Dentist), provided such appointments could not have been arranged outside of regular working hours or working days.” This would include appointments for fertility treatment.
Evidence of your appointments should be provided to your school to support your absence, and this leave can be recorded as certified sick leave on the OLCS.
I am getting married during the school term – what leave can I take?
There is no substitute cover for this absence.
I am getting married during school holidays – can I carry my wedding leave forward to when the school re-opens?
If your wedding takes place during a school closure, leave cannot be carried forward to when the school reopens.
However, if you are getting married on, for example, a bank holiday weekend, you will be able to take leave for any days the school is open from the date of your wedding, inclusive (e.g. if you are getting married on the Saturday of the May bank holiday weekend; your wedding leave would be from Saturday to Friday inclusive. As the school will only be open from Tuesday, you will be on leave for four school days.)
There is no substitute cover for wedding leave.
A family member is getting married on a school day – can I take leave for this?
Following an amendment to circular 32/2007, this leave may be available to attend the wedding of the following family members:
Father
Mother
Child (including their adopted child or step-child)
Step-father
Step-mother
Brother
Step-brother
Half-brother
Brother-in-law
Sister
Step-sister
Half-sister
Sister-in-law
Father-in-law
Mother-in-law
Son-in-law
Daughter-in-law
Grandfather
Grandmother
Grandchild
Aunt
Uncle
Niece
Nephew
Wedding leave is not available to attend the wedding of a first cousin. An EPV day or Unpaid Leave day may be requested instead.
My close friend is getting married, and I am his best man. Is there leave available for this?
See Chapter 11, circular 54/2019 (PDF) for details of unpaid leave and the relevant application form.
I am doing a third-level course. What study leave is available?
Your employer is required to retain evidence of the exams for which the study leave was granted.
Paid leave may be taken on the days the exams take place. You must provide evidence of the exams, which should be retained by your school.
Study leave and exam leave are granted at the discretion of your employer, and there is no substitute cover available.
I am doing a third level course, but I don’t have exams and will be assessed on my thesis. Is any leave available for this?
Many third level courses no longer use exams for assessment, and – anecdotally – some schools do to grant study leave for other purposes, but this is a matter for the employer and falls outside the terms of the circular.
If study leave is not approved by your employer – or you need additional days – you may request up to ten days of unpaid leave in a school year. See Chapter 11, circular 54/2019 (PDF) for details and the relevant application form.
I am graduating from a third level course – can I take leave for this?
A family member has completed a third-level course – do I have leave to attend their graduation?
For this leave, an immediate family member would include your spouse or partner, parents and stepparents, children and stepchildren, and siblings.
My child is making their Confirmation – can I take leave for this?
An EPV day or unpaid leave may be requested.
See Chapter 11, circular 54/2019 (PDF) for details of unpaid leave and the relevant application form.
Can I carry forward unused EPV days from the previous school year?
A teacher on career break while attending a course can carry their EPV days forward and take them the year they return to school.
I am representing Ireland at a sporting event – can I take leave for this?
Evidence of your participation in the event and the number of days required must be retained by the Board and submitted to the Department of Education for approval.
This is not available as a category on the OLCS, so your school should email DE Terms and Conditions directly – teachersna@education.gov.ie – with the details and evidence of the sporting event, and the leave which will be required, and your absences can be recorded from the DE side.
There will be substitute cover for these absences if the leave is sanctioned by your Board and the DE.
I am a member of a voluntary search and rescue organisation. Is there any leave available for this?
In order to avail of this leave, you must be a member of one of the following organisations: Irish Coast Guard; Royal National Lifeboat Institution; Community Inshore Rescue Service; Irish Water Safety Mountain Rescue Ireland; and Irish Cave Rescue Organisation.
This leave is not available for attendance at training courses or exercises.
See circular 25/2023 (PDF) for full details of Voluntary Search and Rescue Leave.
I am legally separating from my spouse. Is there leave available to attend court?
If you need additional days, you could apply for EPV days or unpaid leave.
I am attending the inquest of a deceased family member. Is there leave available for this?
You may request EPV days or unpaid leave days.
See Chapter 11, circular 54/2019 (PDF) for details of unpaid leave and the relevant application form.
Is there leave available for moving house?
I have received a summons to attend court as a witness – what leave is available to me?
The DE will not pay a substitute, but your employer may claim payment for substitute cover from the relevant party in the case.
A family member is becoming an Irish Citizen – do I have leave to attend the ceremony?
See circular 54/2019, Chapter Eleven for details of unpaid leave and the relevant application form.