30.10.2025



Dear ETB’s

 

RE: Revision to configuration of new Balance Code 

FM06 Admin Combined Balance Force Majeure / Illness of a Family member.

 

Following on from the notification which was issued to ETB’s on the 23rd October 2025, there were a number of queries in relation to the Calendar setting of the new balance code FM06.  ESBS reviewed the relevant circulars again and amended the calendar setting from a fixed year of Jan-Dec to a 1 year rolling period.

 

Please see the changes applied in red font below and the corresponding sections from the circulars below:

 

Balance code

Description

Calendar

Entitlement per Balance

FM01

Force Majeure (1 year rolling period)

1 year rolling 

3 days

FM03

Force Majeure (3 year rolling period)

3 year rolling 

5 days

FM04

TEACH/SNA Combined Bal FM/Illness Family

01-Sep-25 to 31-Aug-26

5 days

FM06

ADMIN Combined Bal FM / Illness Family

01-Jan-25 to 31-Dec-25  changed to 1 year rolling

5 days


 

CL 29/2023 Circular relating to ETB staff excluding Teachers/SNA's:

S2.3

Force Majeure Leave Entitlement
Force Majeure Leave consists of one or more days but shall not exceed a maximum of:-
3 days in 12 consecutive months or
 5 days in 36 consecutive months
 An absence for part of a day is counted as one day for force majeure leave.

FM01
 FM03

S3.1

Illness in Family Leave
In the event of the serious and unforeseen illness of or injury to an employee’s immediate relative and in any case where force majeure leave has been exhausted or does not apply, an employer may at their discretion grant Illness in Family Leave with pay where they are satisfied special circumstances exist, up to the following limits:-
5 working days in 12 consecutive months in the case of immediate family, or
 3 working days in 12 consecutive months in the case of a near relative

FM06

S3.2

Force majeure must be claimed where applicable, before the granting of Illness in Family Leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CL 58/2023 Circular relating to Teachers/SNA's:

S3.1

Force Majeure Leave consists of one or more school days, but must not exceed a maximum total of:
a) 3 school days in 12 consecutive months
or
b) 5 school days in 36 consecutive months

FM01
 FM03

S6.1

Entitlement to Illness in Family Leave
Illness in Family Leave consists of one or more school days, but must not exceed a maximum total of:
a) 5 school days in each school year, in respect of an immediate relative
or
 b) 3 school days in each school year, in respect of a near relative

FM04

S6.2

The maximum Illness in Family Leave entitlement in a school year, is 5 school days.
 This is inclusive of the Force Majeure entitlements set out at 3.1.

 

 

Kind Regards 

 

Sarah McAndrew

Oifigeach Feidhmiúcháin – Ionad na Seirbhísí Comhroinnte Gnó Oideachais (ISCGO)

 

An Roinn Oideachais agus Óige

Department of Education and Youth

 

An 4ú hUrlár, The Generali Building, Páirc Mhiondíola Bhaile Bhlainséir, Baile Bhlainséir, D15 YT2H

Floor 4, The Generali Building, Blanchardstown Retail Park, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, D15 YT2H 

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Phone + 353 (01) 889 2398

 

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