Bank Holiday Entitlements

What bank holidays am I entitled to?

From March 2022, there are 10 public holidays per year. Sometimes you will hear these being referred to as ‘bank holidays.’

There are 10 public holidays in Ireland each year (increased from 9 in 2022).

1. New Year’s Day (1 January)
2. St Brigid’s day – First Monday in February, or 1 February if the date falls on a Friday
3. Saint Patrick’s Day (17 March)
4. Easter Monday
5. First Monday in May
6. First Monday in June
7. First Monday in August
8. Last Monday in October
9. Christmas Day (25 December)
10. Saint Stephen’s Day (26 December)

 

Full-time employees who work or are normally rostered to work the public holiday are entitled to either an extra day’s pay, a paid day off on that day or within a month of that day or an additional day of annual leave. Part-time workers are also entitled to this but only if they have worked at least 40 hours in the 5 weeks leading up to the day of the public holiday.

 

I was out sick during a bank holiday, now what happens?

You are entitled to benefit of the bank holiday as per 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

 

Are there times when I cannot benefit from a public holiday?

You are not entitled to benefit from a public holiday under the following circumstances:

• You have been out for more than 26 consecutive weeks.
• You have been out for more than 52 weeks due to an occupational accident.
• You are absent immediately before the public holiday.