Carer's Leave

This is the temporary unpaid leave from employment which you may be allowed to take to look after someone requiring full time care.

Who qualifies

The Carer's Leave Act allows employees to take leave to care full-time for an incapacitated person while protecting their employment rights. To qualify for this, a person must have been in continuous employment for at least a year. The leave is unpaid but a person may qualify for Carer's Benefit (see above). If you avail of Carer's Leave but not Carer's Benefit/Allowance, you are entitled to Carer's Leave credits up to a maximum of 65 weeks.

Leave

Maximum amount of leave is 65 weeks. From May 2006, this increases to a maximum of 2 years. The leave may be taken all at once or at different intervals. Not more than one employee can be on Carer's Leave in respect of the incapacitated person at the same time. An employee can take leave to look after two people if they both live together and require full time care. In this instance, total leave cannot exceed 130 weeks.

How to apply

Application is through the Department of Social and Family Affairs using the Carer's Benefit form (you do not have to be entitled for Carer's Benefit in order to get this leave). This application returns a decision as to whether the person requires full time care. You must notify you employer of this decision and give your employer 6 weeks notice in writing of your intention to avail of Carer's Leave.

Employment Rights Information Unit
Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Davitt House
65a Adelaide Rd,
Dublin 2
LoCall 1890 201 615
Website: www.emptemp.ie