Career Break

Teachers

Purpose

A career break is a leave of absence for the purpose of personal/professional development, further study, public representation, family reasons, self-employment, accompanying partner/spouse on diplomatic/military posting.

Duration of Career Break

A career break shall be a period of no less than 1 school year and may be extended on an annual basis, provided the total period of the career break does not exceed 5 years at any one time.

A subsequent career break may not be taken until the teacher has served for a period equal to the duration of the previous career break. In the case of a teacher wishing to avail of a career break to undertake voluntary service abroad/missionary/diplomatic/military/Oireachtas/ or study leave, this requirement may be waived.

The teacher may engage in this scheme subject to an overall maximum absence of 10 years in the course of their professional career.

A career break shall commence on the start of a school year and a return to duty in the school which granted the career break shall not be permitted other than on the start of the succeeding school year.

In exceptional circumstances, an employer may authorise a teacher to commence a career break during the course of a school year and terminate not earlier than the end of that school year.

Eligibility

A teacher may apply for a career break where s/he:

• Is registered with the Teaching Council

• Has satisfactorily completed, at the end of the school year in which they are applying, 12 months continuous service with the current employer.

A career break is for a period not less than one year

A teacher must complete the Application Form on page 107 of Circular 0054/2019. They must submit it to their employer by 1 February of each school year prior to the school year in which they want to begin or extend a career break.

Paid/unpaid for teacher

Unpaid

Cover type

·      Paid substitute

·      RPT (fixed term) appointment

Circular Letter

For full details on the Career Break Scheme, please refer to 0054/2019

Special Needs Assistants

The Career Break Scheme provides SNAs with an option to avail of a leave of absence from school, without pay, for a minimum period of 1 year.

Objectives of the scheme include:

• education

• personal development

• childcare

For further information on Career Break Scheme for SNA’s please see the circulars below:

• Circular 0022/2012 - Career Break Scheme for Special Needs Assistants

• Circular - 0035/2019 - Changes to the Career Break Scheme for Special Needs Assistants employed in recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools - Employment while on Career Break

Special Needs Assistants seeking a Career Break must submit a letter of application to their employer by 1 March of each school year prior to the school year in which they want to begin or extend the career break.