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EOR IN Ireland
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A guide to employing and growing your team in Ireland
Fast and compliant market entry. Hire top local talent without the need for a legal entity
Ireland ranks among the top ten wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita and ranks highly in human development, freedom of the press, economic freedom and civil liberties. Ireland’s labor market is governed by a combination of statutory acts and common law. In 2026, the landscape has been significantly updated with the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the launch of the “My Future Fund” auto-enrollment pension scheme. As of January 1, 2026, the National Minimum Wage is EURO14.15 per hour for workers aged 20 and over. Employers must now provide a written statement of terms of employment within five days of an employee starting work.
Employer Contributions
PRSI (Class A): 11.25% on weekly earnings above EURO552 (up from EURO441 previously). Earnings up to EURO552 are taxed at 9%.
Pension Auto-Enrollment (My Future Fund): 1.5% of gross salary for eligible employees (aged 23-60 earning over EURO20,000).
Total Employer Contribution: ~10.5% – 12.9%
Employee Payroll Taxes
PRSI (Class A): 4.2% (Note: A tapered credit applies for weekly earnings between EURO352.01 and EURO424).
Pension Auto-Enrollment: 1.5% of gross salary.
Income Tax (PAYE): Variable (Progressive brackets).
Total Employee Contribution: ~5.7%
Employee Income Tax Rates
First EURO12,012: 0.5%
Next EURO16,688: 2.0%
Next EURO41,344: 3.0% (Reduced in 2026 budget to 3%)
Balance: 8.0%
Statutory Leave
Employees are entitled to 4 working weeks of paid annual leave per year. Ireland observes 10 public holidays. Remote.com highlights that if a holiday falls on a weekend, the employee is entitled to the following Monday off or an additional day’s pay.
Pregnancy and Maternity Leave
Female employees are entitled to 26 weeks of statutory maternity leave. While employers are not legally required to pay full salary, many provide a top-up. Employees can claim Maternity Benefit from the state at a rate of EURO299 per week (subject to PRSI). Mothers can also take an additional 16 weeks of unpaid leave. Under the 2026 reforms, employees are now entitled to up to 3 days of paid leave for national health screening programs.
Paternity Leave
Relevant parents (excluding the mother) are entitled to 2 weeks of paternity leave, supported by a state Paternity Benefit of EURO299 per week. Additionally, Parent’s Leave (available to both parents) has been extended to 9 weeks of paid leave per parent for children under 2 years old or within 2 years of adoption.
Work-Related Injury Leave
Sick Leave: Employees with 13 weeks of service are entitled to 10 days of statutory sick pay (SSP) per year (increased in 2026). This is paid at 70% of regular wages, capped at EURO110 per day.
Parental Leave: 26 weeks of unpaid leave per child under age 12.
Pregnancy Loss Leave: A new 2026 entitlement provides 5 days of paid leave for the expectant parent following a pregnancy loss.
Termination Process
Dismissal must be both substantively fair (conduct, capability, or redundancy) and procedurally fair (including a right to representation). Employees with over 12 months of service are protected by the Unfair Dismissals Act. Statutory redundancy for those with 2+ years of service is 2 weeks’ pay per year of service plus one additional week, with weekly pay capped at EURO600.
Notice Period
Statutory notice is tenure-based:
13 weeks – 2 years: 1 week
2 – 5 years: 2 weeks
5 – 10 years: 4 weeks
10 – 15 years: 6 weeks
15+ years: 8 weeks
Probation Period
The standard probation period is 3 to 6 months. By law (transposing the EU Directive), probation cannot exceed 6 months unless in exceptional cases (up to 12 months). During probation, the statutory notice is 1 week if the employee has served more than 13 weeks.