Carer's Leave in Ireland: What Employers Need to Know

Carer's leave in Ireland lets an eligible employee take unpaid time off to provide full-time care for someone who needs it. For an employer, the key points are the notice you should expect, the document you and the employee must sign, and the protections the employee has while away. This guide summarises what Citizens Information and the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) say about carer's leave under the Carer's Leave Act 2001. It is general information, not legal advice.

What carer's leave is

According to Citizens Information (page last edited 2 July 2026), carer's leave is temporary, unpaid leave to provide full-time care and attention for someone who needs it. The WRC page, which shows no last-updated date, says the Act covers employees under a contract of employment or apprenticeship and agency workers, as well as certain people in public-sector office. For agency workers, it says the party paying wages is treated as the employer.

Carer's leave is different from other family-related leave. If the employee needs a short, unplanned absence for an urgent family matter, see our guide to force majeure leave. If the leave relates to a child, our guide to parental leave and its notice rules is the better starting point.

Who is eligible

Citizens Information sets out the following conditions:

• The employee must have worked for the employer for 12 months without a break in employment. The WRC page also refers to 12 months' continuous service before the leave starts.
• The person being cared for must need someone with them at all times to help with daily personal needs, or to protect them from harming themselves.
• A deciding officer in the Department of Social Protection (DSP) decides whether the person needs full-time care, after consulting that person's GP.
• The person being cared for does not have to be a relative. Citizens Information says they can be a friend or colleague.

The employer does not make the medical decision. The decision comes from the DSP, and the employee gives the employer a copy of it. The WRC page lists this as one of the notice steps.

How much leave an employee can take

Citizens Information says total carer's leave is between 13 and 104 weeks. It can be taken as one continuous block or as several blocks, as long as the total does not exceed 104 weeks, and each block must be separated by at least 6 weeks. The page also gives a higher maximum of 208 weeks where two people who live together both need full-time care, and a 6-month wait before taking leave to care for a different person after leave ends.

The WRC page says each period is at least 13 weeks at the employee's discretion, and that an employer may refuse a period shorter than 13 weeks but must give reasons in writing and on reasonable grounds. Both pages say the employer and employee can agree more favourable arrangements.

Notice and the confirmation document

This is where employers most need a clear process. Citizens Information and the WRC describe the following steps.

1. Written notice. The employee gives at least 6 weeks' written notice. Citizens Information says the letter must state that leave is being taken under the Carer's Leave Act 2001, the start date, whether it is one block or several, and that the employee has asked the DSP to confirm the care need. In emergencies, notice should be given as soon as possible.
2. DSP decision. The WRC page says the employee gives the employer a copy of the deciding officer's decision.
3. Confirmation document. The employee and employer sign a confirmation document at least 2 weeks before leave starts. It sets out the start date, the duration and how the leave will be taken. The employer keeps it and gives the employee a copy.

Citizens Information adds that the employer completes part of the Carer's Benefit application form (CARB1) to confirm the employee's employment, where the employee is also applying for that payment.

A practical approach, and our suggestion rather than a legal requirement, is to keep a standard internal checklist and a template confirmation letter so that HR and line managers handle every request the same way.

Changing or ending the leave

Citizens Information says leave can be postponed, shortened or rearranged, but both parties must agree, and the signed agreement is then updated and re-signed. It also lists when leave can end, including when the person no longer needs full-time care, when the employee can no longer provide it, when the person dies (the leave then ends 6 weeks later or on the agreed date, whichever is earlier), when the employer believes the conditions are no longer met and asks the DSP to decide, or when both sides agree an end date.

On return, Citizens Information says the employee gives at least 4 weeks' written notice of the return date, and the employer then notifies the DSP.

Pay and other rights during carer's leave

• Pay: The employer does not pay the employee during carer's leave. Citizens Information says the employee may qualify for Carer's Benefit or Carer's Allowance from the DSP, and can take the leave even if they qualify for neither.
• Annual leave and public holidays: Citizens Information says the employee is generally treated as if at work and is entitled to annual leave and public holidays for the first 13 weeks. Our guide to calculating annual leave entitlement explains how that entitlement is worked out.
• No penalisation: Citizens Information says an employer cannot dismiss an employee for taking carer's leave or penalise them for taking or planning it, including through worse conditions or selection for redundancy. The WRC page makes the same point.
• Pensions: The Citizens Information page does not mention pension rights. Check the Act and your scheme rules, or take advice.
• Working while on leave: Citizens Information says employees may work, or do education, training or voluntary work, for up to 18.5 hours a week within certain limits, and must tell the DSP's Carer's Benefit section first.

If there is a dispute

Citizens Information says disputes should be raised with the employer first. If unresolved, the employee can complain to the WRC, generally within 6 months of the dispute, with a possible extension of up to a further 6 months for reasonable cause. The WRC carer's leave page does not set out the complaints process or time limits, so check the current WRC complaint pages before advising an employee or responding to a claim.

A short employer checklist for Dublin and beyond

Carer's leave law is national, so the same rules apply to a small Dublin office and a large employer elsewhere. Our suggested checklist:

• Acknowledge the written notice promptly and check it includes the required details.
• Ask for a copy of the DSP decision.
• Agree dates, sign the confirmation document and keep it on file.
• Plan cover for the absence, and record any agreed changes in writing.
• Keep annual leave and public holiday entitlement records accurate.
• Never take any adverse step because the employee asked for the leave.

Learnsignal's offices are off Baggot Street in Dublin, and we offer in-person training from there. For current details, see our CPD pages.

Frequently asked questions

Is carer's leave paid by the employer?

No. Citizens Information says the employer does not pay during carer's leave. The employee may qualify for a DSP payment such as Carer's Benefit, depending on PRSI contributions.

Can an employer refuse carer's leave?

The official pages say an employer may refuse a period shorter than 13 weeks, but only on reasonable grounds and with written reasons. They do not describe a general right to refuse an eligible request for 13 weeks or more. Check the Act or take advice if you have concerns.

How much notice must an employee give?

At least 6 weeks' written notice, according to both Citizens Information and the WRC, or as soon as possible in an emergency.

Does the person being cared for have to be a family member?

No. Citizens Information says they can be a friend or colleague, provided the DSP decides they need full-time care.

Carer's leave rules and payment details can change, so check the current Citizens Information and WRC pages on the day you deal with a request.