Frequently Asked Questions on Sick Leave

What do I need to do on my first day of sick leave absence?

You must notify your employer as early as possible on your first day of absence in line with your school’s normal procedures.

You should indicate the likely duration of absence if possible and state if it is certified or self-certified sick leave.

(Note: Self-certified sick leave is seven days paid leave over a rolling two-year period)

When do I need to provide a medical certificate?

In the case of certified sick leave, a medical certificate is required if you are absent for more than four consecutive school days in a Voluntary Secondary School and three school days in the case of an ETB school.

• To be acceptable a medical certificate should be signed by a qualified medical practitioner.
• It normally covers a period of no more than one week, however certification of up one month may be accepted at employer’s discretion. (Note: A medical certificate for one month duration is usually for 28 days and therefore can trigger an immediate referral to Medmark).
• State fitness to work or otherwise.
• It is not obligatory to state the nature of the illness.
• A medical certificate should be provided as soon as possible but not later than one week after the absence commences.
• Self-certified sick leave cannot be availed of immediately after certified sick leave.

What are my sick leave entitlements?

Initially your sick leave entitlements are under the Ordinary Illness Provisions which cover employees who are absent from work due to personal illness or injury.

Ordinary Illness covers:

• Maximum of three months (92 days) on full pay in 12-month period.
• Maximum of three months (91 days) on half pay.
• Subject to a maximum of six months (183 days) in a rolling four-year period.

(Note: Total sick leave includes both certified and self-certified)

What happens if I am absent either side of a weekend?

• Sick leave periods can include weekends, school closures and days on which a teacher is not timetabled.
• Where a school closure occurs during a period of sick leave, the full period including school closure will be considered sick leave.

Example: if a teacher is absent either side or a weekend ie on Friday and the following Monday, then this absence will count as 4 days sick leave in their overall sick leave record.

What happens if I am absent before or after a school closure?

Where a teacher is absent on sick leave and has not returned to duty for a reasonable period before and after a period of school closure, the teacher will be deemed to be on sick leave for the whole duration unless:

• The teacher provides a medical certificate of fitness to resume full duties prior to or during a period of school closure,
• The advice of Medmark as to the teacher’s fitness for full duties has been obtained and whether the school closure period or any part thereof might be discounted, and
• Medmark has deemed the period of return to duty to be reasonable taking into account the medical circumstances in individual cases.

How do I calculate my sick leave entitlements?

Your sick leave is calculated based on a dual look back system.

Step 1:

Determine the total number of sick days taken over the previous four-year rolling period i.e. from the current date back four years (e.g. 20/11/2025 to 20/11/2021).

Step 2:

Determine the number of days which fell in the previous 12-month rolling period, counting back from the current date (e.g. 20/11/2025 to 20/11/2024).

For example, if you used 60 days in the previous four-year rolling period, 20 days of which fell in the previous 12 month rolling period, this is how you would calculate your remaining sick leave:

Step 3:

To calculate your rate of pay for these remaining days, you look back 12 months.

The maximum full paid number of days in a 12-month period is 92 days so subtract the number of days taken in 12 months from 92 and this is your full paid sick leave.

The balance is then paid at half pay so in this case:

Note: A teacher can request a detailed statement of leave from their employer (school) which will show what sick leave has been used in a 12-month and a four-year rolling period. At least one report should be provided by the employer annually.

When do I need to claim Illness Benefit?

• When a teacher is absent on sick leave and pays Class A1 PRSI they may be entitled to claim Illness Benefit (depending on duration of absence).
• If it is a first illness in that year and illness is less than five days then you don’t need to apply for Illness Benefit.
• If the first illness is more than five days then you need to claim Illness Benefit from day six.
• If you have used five days sick leave (either continuous or cumulative) and become ill again in same year and that absence is in excess of three days then you need to claim Illness Benefit from day four.

How do I claim Illness Benefit?

• Illness Benefit is claimed directly from the Department of Social Protection within six weeks of becoming ill.
• Teachers can apply online or submit a paper application.
• The application is done through your GP as your illness must be certified by your GP. 

Online application:

• You can apply for Illness Benefit online at MyWelfare.ie if you have a verified MyGovID account.
• Your GP can electronically submit a Certificate of Incapacity for work.

Paper application:

• Your GP will provide you with an Illness Benefit claim form (IB1) and the Certificate of Incapacity for work. You fill in the IB1 form and freepost it to the Department of Social Protection (address is on form).
• Illness Benefit is then paid directly into your bank account and the Department of Education then apply a deduction to salary which is equivalent to amount claimed (The balance of your salary is paid as normal).
• These are the current Illness Benefit requirements which are subject to change depending on Department of Social Protection regulations.

What is Medmark?

Medmark is the occupational health service for teachers.

What is Medmark’s role?

Medmark is the sole recognised provider of independent medical advice for teachers and employers. It is a requirement of the Sick Leave Scheme that all employers and teachers co-operate with Medmark.

When will I be referred to Medmark?

• Where a teacher has been absent on sick leave for four weeks (28 days) continuous or cumulative in a 12-month rolling period.
• Where reasonable concerns exist as to the capacity of the teacher to undertake their duties in a manner that is safe.
• Examples: Repeated short-term absences or work related health factors.

What can I expect once I’m referred?

• Employer (school) informs the teacher that they have been referred.
• Medmark contacts the teacher by telephone to discuss their medical circumstances. (Initial contact is usually from a nurse.)
• Medmark establishes reason for and likely duration of absence.
• Medmark will either agree a return-to-work date or schedule a further review if necessary.
• Medmark have the final say in a teacher’s fitness to return to work and can overrule a GP or consultant.
• The employer is notified of the outcome.

When do I apply for Critical Illness Provisions (CIP)?

Teachers may apply for access to Critical Illness Provisions where they become incapacitated as a result of a critical illness or serious physical injury.

An application can be made at any time provided you are absent on sick leave, under the care of a consultant and meet the medical criteria.

If awarded the critical entitlements are:

• A maximum of six months (183 days) on full pay in a 12-month rolling period,
• A maximum of six months (182 days) on half pay, and
• Subject to a maximum of 12 months (365 days) in a rolling four-year period.

(Note: CIP entitlements extend the Ordinary Illness Provisions)

What is Medmark’s medical criteria for CIP?

The nature of the medical condition has at least one of the following characteristics:

• Acute life-threatening physical illness,
• Chronic progressive illness, with well-established potential to reduce life expectancy,
• Major physical trauma ordinarily requiring corrective acute operative surgical treatment, or
• In-patient or day hospital care of 10 consecutive days or greater.

How do I apply for CIP?

CIP application process:

• The teacher must apply to their employer for access to CIP on the Employee Application for CIP
• Upon receipt of the Employee Application for CIP, the employer (school) must initiate a referral to Medmark and complete the Occupational Health Referral form.
• Upon completion of this referral, the employer will receive a unique CIP referral number which must be given to the teacher.
• A copy of the completed referral form must also be made available to the teacher.
• The next step then is the teacher provides a completed report from their treating consultant directly to the Medmark.
• A template for this report (MM180) this can be found here. (Note: The unique referral CIP number should be included on report)
• The report must address the following areas: diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and any hospital stays.
• Once Medmark receive and review the report from the treating consultant they will advise the employer (school) by way of a report if, in their opinion, the teacher fulfils the medical criteria for award of CIP.

What if Medmark refuse my medical application for CIP?

As the criteria for granting CIP on the basis of Medmark’s medical grounds are quite narrow, there will be cases which involve quite serious illness, injuries or conditions, which may deserve CIP, but do not fall within Medmark’s medical criteria.

Therefore, in such cases employers are allowed to exercise managerial discretion (Board of Management) and may grant CIP after considering the circumstances of the individual case.

In exercising managerial discretion, the employer must establish the following:

• That there are "exceptional circumstances",
• That those exceptional circumstances relate to the illness, injury or condition of the employee, and
• That those exceptional circumstances warrant the granting of CIP.

Examples of exceptional circumstances:

• Presence of medical complications
• Hospital stay close to Medmark’s 10 day threshold

The employer, when making this decision, should consider the relevant information from the following three sources: 

1. The medical CIP report,
2. Relevant information from the employee, and
3. Relevant human resources information and professional judgement.

Once I return to work will I still have access to any remaining CIP?

It is important to note that once a teacher has been declared fit to return to work following critical illness, they retain access to any remaining sick leave available under CIP for 12 months, even if the reason for the further absence is not regarded as critical.

After the 12-month period, sick leave entitlements will revert back to the Ordinary Illness Provisions.

What is Temporary Rehabilitation Remuneration (TRR)?

TRR is a payment to support teachers who are absent on extended sick leave and who have exceeded the 183 days of paid sick leave under Ordinary Illness Provisions or 365 days under the Critical Illness Provisions in a rolling four-year period.

The overall rate of TRR is 37.5% salary (inclusive of Illness Benefit payment).

TRR will not exceed 18 months (548 days) in the case of Ordinary Illness.

In the case of Critical Illness, they may have access to TRR for 12 months (365 days) followed by a further period of TRR not exceeding 24 months (730) days. This further period is subject to six monthly reviews by Medmark.

The period during which TRR is paid is not a period of pensionable service and will not count for pension purposes.