Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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34. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his view on the provision of statutory sick leave in Ireland compared with other European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21529/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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It is important to recognise that each country operates under different systems, making direct comparisons complex. Employer-paid statutory sick leave has only been in place in Ireland since 2023. My officials will keep the legislation under review to ensure it continues to be fit-for-purpose.

Ireland operates a so-called hybrid approach to statutory sick leave, combining an initial period of financial support from employers, followed by a move on to state benefits if the illness persists.

Employers pay sick leave for up to five working days of medically certified illness, after which the state-funded Illness Benefit, operated by the Department of Social Protection, steps in if the employee remains unfit to work.

Some EU countries, especially those in the Mediterranean, operate systems of social insurance for sick leave. While this can reduce the cost burden on employers, it may also involve short gaps in payment and varying levels of support depending on the fund’s resources.

Ireland’s statutory sick leave scheme provides for up to 70% of average earnings, capped at €110 per day. In other countries, the replacement rate can range from 25% to 100%, and the duration of payments can vary significantly. Some countries also taper sick leave payments, whereby the replacement rate decreases, or alternatively increases, over the course of the illness.

The Netherlands is an outlier, requiring employers to pay 70% of salary for up to two years. However, this is often supplemented by mandatory employer insurance policies.