Is Training Time Working Time? Pay and Hours Rules for Irish Employers

Is training time working time Ireland employers must pay for? The answer depends on the type of training. For one category, training an employer is required by law or collective agreement to provide, the position is clear. For other training, the official pages we read are silent, and we say so below. This guide is general information for employers and HR teams, including Dublin-based teams, and not legal advice.

It focuses on training and paid hours. For the wider rules on breaks and weekly limits, see our guide to rest breaks, night work and working time in Ireland.

The clearest rule: mandatory training

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) page on the European Union (Transparent and Predictable Working Conditions) Regulations 2022 has a section on mandatory training. It says the rule applies where an employer is required by law or by collective agreement to train an employee to do their job. In that case, the training must be:

• provided to the employee free of cost;
• counted as working time; and
• where possible, held during working hours (the WRC page says "should take place", which is not an absolute rule).

The text of the Regulations on the Irish Statute Book points the same way. Regulation 10 inserts a section 6G on mandatory training into the existing legislation, and the wording matches: where an employer is required by law or by a collective agreement to provide training to an employee to carry out the work for which he or she is employed, the training shall be provided free of cost, count as working time and, where possible, take place during working hours.

The WRC page adds that the Regulations became law on 16 December 2022, and that if a relevant collective agreement covers these matters the section does not apply to employees covered by that agreement. The page shows no last-updated date.

What counts as "required by law"

The pages we read do not list which training is required by law, and we have not tried to compile that list here. Health and safety is one area where the law imposes training duties; Citizens Information's page on employer obligations (edited 1 January 2026) says employers must provide instruction and training to employees on health and safety. Whether a particular course, such as a licence renewal or an induction, falls inside the mandatory category is a question of fact. Our suggestion: for each training type, note the legal or collective-agreement basis, so that you can show why you treated it as working time. Our related guide on the written statement, probation and mandatory training goes into the written statement side.

Training that is not mandatory

The pages we opened do not say whether optional or voluntary development training (for example, an evening course the employee chooses) counts as working time or must be paid. The Citizens Information working hours page (edited 27 January 2025) explains the 48-hour average weekly limit and what is not counted towards it, such as leave, but it does not mention training.

What that means for employers: do not assume either way. The answer may turn on the contract, any policy or collective agreement, and the facts of the particular course. Take advice where the position is unclear, and be consistent in how you treat similar situations.

The statutory definition of working time

The Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 contains a definition of working time, but we have not quoted it here, so read the section itself if you need the exact wording. The Citizens Information page says the law is in the 1997 Act and notes that it does not apply to all employees, with examples such as Gardai and family employees on farms or in private homes. If you need to apply the definition to a borderline case, read the section itself or get advice.

Training and the written statement

The WRC page lists "training the employer will provide" among the terms to be included in the written statement of terms, in addition to the core items. Citizens Information's contract of employment page (edited 10 August 2026) lists "Any training to be provided by your employer" among the remaining terms to be given in writing, which it says must be provided within one month of starting. The page also notes that a contract can include a probationary period of up to six months from 1 August 2022, extendable in exceptional circumstances to a maximum of twelve. In practice this means onboarding training should be mentioned in the paperwork.

Study leave and exams

Time off for exams is a different question. Employers sometimes grant paid or unpaid study leave as a matter of policy. Our guide on exam leave and study leave in Ireland covers study and exam leave. Read that guide alongside this one if your staff are studying for professional qualifications.

Recording hours

Citizens Information's employer obligations page says employers must keep records of employees' working hours and rates of pay. Our suggestion: where training counts as working time, make sure it appears in the records, including training that takes place outside normal hours. Where an employee works a full day and then attends an evening session, consider how the hours add up against your normal arrangements.

A practical checklist

• List the training you require by law or under a collective agreement, and treat it as free of cost and working time.
• Where it cannot happen during working hours, make a note of why, and agree the arrangements with the employee in advance.
• For optional training, put your approach in writing in a policy so it is applied consistently. This is our suggestion, not a legal requirement.
• Record hours for training sessions in the same system as other hours.
• Review the written statement for new starters so that it mentions training you will provide.

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

Does mandatory training count as working time?

Yes. The WRC page and the Regulations say training an employer is required by law or collective agreement to provide counts as working time and must be provided free of cost.

Must mandatory training take place during working hours?

The wording is "where possible". It is a strong expectation but not an absolute rule.

Is optional training paid?

The pages we read do not say. Check your contract and policies, and take advice if there is a dispute.

Where should the training be mentioned in the paperwork?

According to the WRC and Citizens Information pages, training the employer will provide is among the terms in the written statement.

To sum up: mandatory training is paid working time, other training depends on your arrangements, and your records should show which is which.