Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 June 2021
287. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education the details of the circular for teachers in post-primary settings looking for unpaid leave one day per week in order to care for a son or daughter who is suffering from an illness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30279/21]
View answerThe Parental Leave Scheme for teachers is contained at Chapter 5 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 titled ‘Leave Schemes for Registered Teachers Employed in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools’. Parental Leave is provided under the Parental Leave Act 1998 to allow a teacher a period of unpaid leave to care for his/her child. An eligible teacher is entitled up to a maximum of 26 weeks Parental Leave in respect of each child up to the age of 13 years or the age of 16 years in the case of a child with a disability and/or long-term illness. A teacher may avail of Parental Leave in blocks of at least one week up to a maximum of 26 weeks. In certain circumstances, a teacher may avail of Parental Leave in the form of individual days where a child has particular medical problems that require the attendance of a parent with the child at a hospital, clinic or therapeutic appointment on a regular basis.
Unpaid Leave as detailed at Chapter 11 of my Department’s Circular Letter 0054/2019 may be granted to a teacher in exceptional circumstances where the employer is satisfied that there is a compelling obligation involving absence from duty. The maximum amount of Unpaid Leave which may be taken by a teacher in one school year is 10 school days.
