Paid annual leave and public holidays in Ireland (2026)

Last reviewed: 13 October 2026

In short: Employees are entitled to paid annual leave of 4 working weeks under the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. There are 10 public holidays a year, each with its own entitlement that is separate from annual leave.

RuleWhat applies
Minimum paid leave a year (weeks)Full-time employee4 weeks [1]
Minimum paid leave as the law states itFull-time employee4 working weeks of paid annual leave in a leave year in which the employee works at least 1,365 hours; a working week means the days the employee usually works in a week. [1]
National public holidays a yearFull-time employee10 days [1]
Public holidays and annual leaveFull-time employeeNot counted as leave days [1]

Notes

  • The full 4 working weeks apply to a leave year with at least 1,365 hours worked. Otherwise the entitlement is one-third of a working week for each month with at least 117 hours, or 8 per cent of hours worked (maximum 4 weeks), whichever is greater. A working week is the number of days the employee usually works in a week (section 19(6)).
  • The 9 days in paragraph 1 of the Second Schedule to the Act (1 January, St Patrick's Day, Easter Monday, first Mondays in May, June and August, last Monday in October, Christmas Day, St Stephen's Day) plus St Brigid's Day (first Monday in February, or 1 February if it falls on a Friday), prescribed by S.I. No. 50/2022 from 2023.
  • Section 21 gives a separate entitlement for each public holiday, which the employer chooses to meet by a paid day off on the day, a paid day off within a month, an additional day of annual leave or an additional day's pay. Part-time employees need 40 hours worked in the previous 5 weeks (section 21(4)).

Sources

  1. Law Reform Commission (Revised Acts): Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 (revised, updated to 20 January 2025) (consulted 13 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.