(LRC Revised)
Statutory Text (1 Articles)
Number 19 of 2001
CARER’S LEAVE ACT 2001
REVISED
Updated to 14 October 2020
Changes to legislation
as of 10 July 2026, this Act is up to date with all changes known to be in force.
This Revised Act is an administrative consolidation of the
Carer’s Leave Act 2001
. It is prepared by the Law Reform Commission in accordance with its function under
the
Law Reform Commission Act 1975
(3/1975) to keep the law under review and to undertake revision and consolidation
of statute law.
All Acts up to and including the
Regulated Professions (Health
and Social Care) (Amendment) Act 2020
(16/2020), enacted 14 October 2020, and all
statutory instruments up to and including the
Disability, Equality, Human Rights,
Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial
Functions) Order 2020
(S.I. No. 436 of 2020), made 13 October 2020, were
considered in the preparation of this Revised Act.
Disclaimer: While every care has been taken in the preparation of this Revised Act,
the Law Reform Commission can assume no responsibility for and give no guarantees,
undertakings or warranties concerning the accuracy, completeness or up to date nature
of the information provided and does not accept any liability whatsoever arising from
any errors or omissions. Please notify any errors, omissions and comments by email
to
revisedacts@lawreform.ie.
Number
19
of
2001
CARER’S LEAVE ACT 2001
REVISED
Updated to 14 October
2020
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
PART 1
Preliminary and General
Section
1.
Short title.
2.
Interpretation.
3.
Regulations.
4.
Voidance or modification of certain provisions in agreements.
5.
Expenses.
PART 2
Carer’s Leave
6.
Entitlement to carer’s leave.
7.
Supplemental provisions to
section 6
.
8.
Manner in which carer’s leave may be taken.
9.
Notice of carer’s leave.
10.
Confirmation of carer’s leave.
11.
Termination of carer’s leave.
12.
Postponement, curtailment and variation of carer’s leave by parties concerned.
PART 3
Employment Rights
13.
Protection of employment rights.
14.
Return to work.
15.
Right to alternative employment.
16.
Protection of employees from penalisation.
PART 4
Resolution of Disputes
17.
Disputes.
18.
Reference by employer to Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs on certain
issues.
19.
Reference of disputes to rights commissioner.
20.
Appeal from decision of rights commissioner.
21.
[Decision under section 41 or 44 of Workplace Relations Act 2015.]
22.
Enforcement of decisions and determinations.
23.
Appeal to High Court on point of law.
PART 5
Miscellaneous
24.
Service of notices.
25.
Winding up and bankruptcy.
26.
Amendment of Act of 1967.
27.
Amendment of Act of 1977.
28.
Amendment of Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997.
29.
Amendment of National Minimum Wage Act, 2000.
30.
Extension of Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984.
31.
Maintenance of records.
32.
Inspectors.
33.
Penalties, proceedings, etc.
34.
Review of Act.
Acts Referred to
Adoptive Leave Act, 1995
1995, No. 2
Bankruptcy Act, 1988
1988, No. 27
Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956
1956, No. 46
Companies Act, 1963
1963, No. 33
Companies Acts, 1963 to 1999
Courts Act, 1981
1981, No. 11
Employment Agency Act, 1971
1971, No. 27
Local Government Act, 1941
1941, No. 23
Maternity Protection Act, 1994
1994, No. 34
Minimum Notice and Terms of Employment Act, 1973
1973, No. 4
National Minimum Wage Act, 2000
2000, No. 5
Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997
1997, No. 20
Parental Leave Act, 1998
1998, No. 30
Petty Sessions (Ireland) Act, 1851
1851, c. 93
Protection of Employees (Employers’ Insolvency) Act, 1984
1984, No. 21
Redundancy Payments Act, 1967
1967, No. 21
Redundancy Payments Acts, 1967 to 1991
Social Welfare Act, 2000
2000, No. 4
Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993
1993, No. 27
Unfair Dismissals Act, 1977
1977, No. 10
Unfair Dismissals Acts, 1977 to 1993
Number
19
of
2001
CARER’S LEAVE ACT 2001
REVISED
Updated to 14 October
2020
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE TEMPORARY ABSENCE FROM EMPLOYMENT OF EMPLOYEES FOR THE PURPOSE
OF THE PROVISION OF FULL-TIME CARE AND ATTENTION TO A PERSON REQUIRING IT, TO PROTECT
THE EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS OF THOSE EMPLOYEES DURING SUCH ABSENCE, AND FOR THAT PURPOSE
TO AMEND CERTAIN ENACTMENTS AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [2
nd July
, 2001]
BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred
and references construed (14.10.2020) by
Disability, Equality, Human
Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020
(S.I. No. 436 of
2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (3) and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2), subject
to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
Note change of name of Department
and title of Minister to Department of and Minister for Children, Equality,
Disability, Integration and Youth made (15.10.2020) by
Children and Youth
Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020
(S.I. No. 437 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2).
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of
any functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of
Children and Youth Affairs.
(2) References to the
Department of Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made
under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred
by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of
this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Children and
Youth Affairs.
3. (1) The functions vested
in the Minister for Justice and Equality -
(a) by or under the
enactments specified in Schedule 1, and
...
are transferred to the
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
...
(3) References to the
Minister for Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made
under such Act, and relating to any functions transferred by this Article
shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as
references to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
SCHEDULE 1
Article 3(1)(a)
Enactments, functions by
or under which are transferred from the Minister for Justice and Equality to
the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
...
Carer’s Leave Act 2001 (No. 19 of
2001)
...
C2
Certain functions under Act transferred (1.01.2005) by
Health Act 2004
(42/2004), ss. 58, 59(1)-(3) and sch. 3 item 57, S.I. No. 887 of 2004 and S.I. No.
885 of 2004 (establishment day).
Dissolution of health boards and other specified bodies.
58.
—The specified bodies are, by this Act, dissolved on the establishment day.
Transfer of functions of specified bodies to Executive.
59.
—(1) The functions that, immediately before the establishment day, were the functions
of a specified body under or in connection with the enactments referred to in Schedule
3 are, by this Act, transferred to the Executive on that day.
(2) If a provision of an enactment referred to in Schedule 3, or a provision of an
instrument made under such enactment, does not come into effect until on or after
the establishment day, a function that on the passing of that enactment or the making
of that instrument was assigned under or in connection with that provision to a specified
body is, by this Act, transferred to the Executive on the commencement of that provision.
(3) The functions transferred by this Act to the Executive include the functions specified
in any enactment referred to in Schedule 3 as a function of the following
(a) the chief executive officer of a health board;
(b) the Regional Chief Executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority;
(c) the area chief executive of an Area Health Board.
...
SCHEDULE 3
Transfer of Functions and References to Functional Areas
Section 59 and 67 .
...
57. Carer’s Leave Act 2001
...
C3
Act applied with modifications (20.12.2001) by
Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001
(45/2001), ss. 3(1), 8, S.I. No. 636 of 2001.
Interpretation (generally).
3.
—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— ...
“relevant enactment” means—
(a) the Carer’s Leave Act, 2001,
...
Application of relevant enactments.
8.
—Each relevant enactment shall apply to a part-time employee in the same manner, and
subject to the like exceptions not inconsistent with this section, as it applies,
other than by virtue of this Act, to an employee to whom that enactment relates.
Editorial Notes
E1
Act included in definitions of “employment enactment” and “relevant enactment” (1.08.2015) by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 2 and sch. 1 part 2 item 1, S.I. No. 338 of 2015, with the following
effects
• Authorised officers or inspectors under employment enactments deemed to be appointed
under
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 26(2) and subject to termination under s. 26(4).
• Powers of inspectors for purposes of relevant enactments defined in
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 27.
• Workplace Relations Commission, an inspector or an adjudication officer authorised
to disclose employer’s registered number or employee’s PPSN to enable Labour Court to perform functions under relevant enactments by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015) s. 31(5).
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and official body to disclose information
to each other concerning the commission of offence under relevant enactment provided
by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 32.
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and contracting authority to disclose information
to each other concerning the commission of offence under employment enactment/ relevant
enactment provided by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 33.
• Powers of Minister to prosecute under relevant enactments transferred to Workplace
Relations Commission and references construed by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 37.
• Functions of EAT to hear claims under employment enactments transferred to Workplace
Relations Commission and references to EAT construed by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015) s. 66(1), (2), not commenced as of date of revision.
Annotations
Modifications (not altering text)
C1
Functions transferred
and references construed (14.10.2020) by
Disability, Equality, Human
Rights, Integration and Reception (Transfer of Departmental
Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020
(S.I. No. 436 of
2020), arts. 2, 3(1)(a), (3) and sch., in effect as per art. 1(2), subject
to transitional provisions in arts. 4-8.
Note change of name of Department
and title of Minister to Department of and Minister for Children, Equality,
Disability, Integration and Youth made (15.10.2020) by
Children and Youth
Affairs (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2020
(S.I. No. 437 of 2020), in effect as per art. 1(2).
2. (1) The administration
and business in connection with the exercise, performance or execution of
any functions transferred by Article 3 are transferred to the Department of
Children and Youth Affairs.
(2) References to the
Department of Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made
under such Act and relating to any administration and business transferred
by paragraph (1) of this Article shall, on and after the commencement of
this Order, be construed as references to the Department of Children and
Youth Affairs.
3. (1) The functions vested
in the Minister for Justice and Equality -
(a) by or under the
enactments specified in Schedule 1, and
...
are transferred to the
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
...
(3) References to the
Minister for Justice and Equality contained in any Act or instrument made
under such Act, and relating to any functions transferred by this Article
shall, on and after the commencement of this Order, be construed as
references to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
SCHEDULE 1
Article 3(1)(a)
Enactments, functions by
or under which are transferred from the Minister for Justice and Equality to
the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
...
Carer’s Leave Act 2001 (No. 19 of
2001)
...
C2
Certain functions under Act transferred (1.01.2005) by
Health Act 2004
(42/2004), ss. 58, 59(1)-(3) and sch. 3 item 57, S.I. No. 887 of 2004 and S.I. No.
885 of 2004 (establishment day).
Dissolution of health boards and other specified bodies.
58.
—The specified bodies are, by this Act, dissolved on the establishment day.
Transfer of functions of specified bodies to Executive.
59.
—(1) The functions that, immediately before the establishment day, were the functions
of a specified body under or in connection with the enactments referred to in Schedule
3 are, by this Act, transferred to the Executive on that day.
(2) If a provision of an enactment referred to in Schedule 3, or a provision of an
instrument made under such enactment, does not come into effect until on or after
the establishment day, a function that on the passing of that enactment or the making
of that instrument was assigned under or in connection with that provision to a specified
body is, by this Act, transferred to the Executive on the commencement of that provision.
(3) The functions transferred by this Act to the Executive include the functions specified
in any enactment referred to in Schedule 3 as a function of the following
(a) the chief executive officer of a health board;
(b) the Regional Chief Executive of the Eastern Regional Health Authority;
(c) the area chief executive of an Area Health Board.
...
SCHEDULE 3
Transfer of Functions and References to Functional Areas
Section 59 and 67 .
...
57. Carer’s Leave Act 2001
...
C3
Act applied with modifications (20.12.2001) by
Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act 2001
(45/2001), ss. 3(1), 8, S.I. No. 636 of 2001.
Interpretation (generally).
3.
—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— ...
“relevant enactment” means—
(a) the Carer’s Leave Act, 2001,
...
Application of relevant enactments.
8.
—Each relevant enactment shall apply to a part-time employee in the same manner, and
subject to the like exceptions not inconsistent with this section, as it applies,
other than by virtue of this Act, to an employee to whom that enactment relates.
Editorial Notes
E1
Act included in definitions of “employment enactment” and “relevant enactment” (1.08.2015) by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 2 and sch. 1 part 2 item 1, S.I. No. 338 of 2015, with the following
effects
• Authorised officers or inspectors under employment enactments deemed to be appointed
under
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 26(2) and subject to termination under s. 26(4).
• Powers of inspectors for purposes of relevant enactments defined in
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 27.
• Workplace Relations Commission, an inspector or an adjudication officer authorised
to disclose employer’s registered number or employee’s PPSN to enable Labour Court to perform functions under relevant enactments by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015) s. 31(5).
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and official body to disclose information
to each other concerning the commission of offence under relevant enactment provided
by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 32.
• Power of Workplace Relations Commission and contracting authority to disclose information
to each other concerning the commission of offence under employment enactment/ relevant
enactment provided by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 33.
• Powers of Minister to prosecute under relevant enactments transferred to Workplace
Relations Commission and references construed by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015), s. 37.
• Functions of EAT to hear claims under employment enactments transferred to Workplace
Relations Commission and references to EAT construed by
Workplace Relations Act 2015
(16/2015) s. 66(1), (2), not commenced as of date of revision.
Number
19
of
2001