Relocating Nurse: Holiday Entitlements in Ireland

Are you a nurse considering a career (and life) move to Ireland? Curious about the holiday entitlements might look like? Look no further! This article breaks down the essential details of working as a nurse in Ireland, ensuring you're well-informed before making your exciting journey.

Legal Minimum Holiday Entitlements

In Ireland, the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997 provides statutory minimum entitlements for all employees to holidays and public holidays. All employees, regardless of status or service, qualify for paid holidays.

Standard Holiday Entitlement

In Ireland, if you are working a full time contract, you will receive a minimum of 20 paid annual leave days per year. This can be broken down as follows:

1. If you've worked at least 1,365 hours in a leave year, you're entitled to four working weeks of vacation. (Note: This is subject to change if you change employment within a leave year.)
2. If you've worked less than 1,365 hours in a leave year, you're entitled to either one third of a working week for each calendar month where you've clocked a minimum of 117 hours, or 8% of the total hours worked within a leave year (with a cap of four working weeks).

INMO Annual Leave Entitlements

Nurses and midwives, both in the public and private healthcare sectors, enjoy a step above the statutory minimum entitlements we just explored. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) ensures these dedicated professionals receive additional annual leave benefits, enhancing their work-life balance and recognition.

INMO Holiday Entitlements

Public or Bank Holiday Entitlements

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland each year, which come with paid leave or extra days annual leave on top of the holiday entitlement with your contract of employment. If you are rostered or choose to work a Bank Holiday shift you are entitled to a ‘premium rate’ which can be up to double your normal rate of pay.

Irish Public Holidays:

• New Year's Day (1st January)
• First Monday in February, or 1st February if the date falls on a Friday
• Saint Patrick's Day (17th March)
• Easter Monday
• First Monday in May
• First Monday in June
• First Monday in August
• Last Monday in October
• Christmas Day (25th December)
• St. Stephen's Day (26th December)

Most employees are entitled to paid leave on public holidays. Full-time workers have immediate entitlement to benefit for public holidays and part-time workers have entitlement to benefit when they have worked a total of 40 hours in the previous 5 weeks.

If you qualify for public holiday benefit, you are entitled to one of the following:

• A paid day off on the public holiday
• An additional day of annual leave
• An additional day's pay
• A paid day off within a month of the public holiday

When all the holiday benefits come together, Ireland offers nurses with approximately 34 days of vacation per year. This enticing prospect adds to the numerous reasons why Ireland is a great country of choice if you are considering relocating.

Get in Touch

For more information on the benefits of working in Ireland as a nurse please feel free to reach out today. 

Contact Us