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Employment guide

Hire and pay employees
in Ireland

Employment law, payroll compliance, taxes, benefits, and hiring requirements for Ireland — curated and reviewed by Remote&.

Capital
Dublin
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
39–40 hours per week
Min. salary
€14.15
01 — Country basics

Ireland at a glance

Capital
Dublin
Language
Irish and English
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
39–40 hours per week
Public Holidays
10 days per year
Minimum Salary
€14.15
Tax Year
Jan 1 – Dec 31
Worker misclassification risk
Misclassifying an employee as a contractor in Ireland can trigger liability for statutory rights entitlements, minimum wage, unpaid holiday pay, back taxes, interest, and penalties.
02 — Tax obligations

Taxes in Ireland

Employer Contributions

ContributionRate
Employer PRSI (up to €552/week earnings)9.0%
Employer PRSI (above €552/week earnings)11.25%
Auto-enrollment pension (MyFutureFund, from Jan 2026)Starting at 1.5%
Employer contributions
ContributionRate
Employer PRSI (up to €552/week earnings)9.0%
Employer PRSI (above €552/week earnings)11.25%
Auto-enrollment pension (MyFutureFund, from Jan 2026)Starting at 1.5%
Employee contributions
ContributionRate
Pay-Related Social Insurance (PRSI)4.2%
Income tax (progressive)20%–40%
Universal Social Charge (USC) — up to €12,0120.5%
USC — up to €28,7002%
USC — up to €70,0443%
USC — above €70,0448%
03 — Remote& EOR

Employer of Record in Ireland

How Remote& EOR Works

Remote& acts as the legal employer of your Irish workers — handling payroll, PRSI filings, statutory benefits, and employment contracts while you direct the work.

PartyRole
Your CompanyManages work tasks, performance, and team direction
Remote&Runs payroll, files PRSI and income tax, administers benefits, ensures legal compliance
EmployeeWorks for your company under a locally compliant Irish contract

Ask Remi:

"Hire a senior engineer in Ireland — €7,500/month, starting Q3" Remi handles everything: contract, Revenue registration, payroll setup, and MyFutureFund enrollment.
04 — What employees receive

Benefits in Ireland

Statutory
  • Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA): Alternative to occupational pension for the first 6 months; no mandatory employer contributions initially
  • Auto-enrollment (MyFutureFund): Live since January 1, 2026. Employees aged 23–60 earning over €20k/year without a qualifying pension are automatically enrolled. Employer contributes 1.5% initially, rising to 6% by year 10; state adds 0.5% (rising to 2%)
Common additional
  • Cycle-to-work scheme
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
  • Employer pension contributions
  • Private health insurance (VHI, Laya, Irish Life)
  • Life assurance
  • Income protection insurance
  • Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave pay
  • Gym membership
  • Dental and vision plans
  • Stock options / RSUs
  • Flexible working arrangements
05 — Time away from work

Leave entitlements

Leave typeEntitlement
Paid Annual Leave20 working days + 10 public holidays
Sick Leave5 paid sick days
Maternity Leave26 weeks paid + 16 weeks optional unpaid
Paternity Leave2 weeks
Parental Leave9 weeks paid (€299/week) in child's first 2 years; up to 26 weeks unpaid before age 12
06 — Contracts & rights

Employment conditions

Probation

Should not exceed 6 months. In exceptional circumstances, extendable to a maximum of 12 months total.

Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures

Employers must follow documented written procedures per the Code of Practice on Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures, outlining each stage for addressing complaints and performance issues.

Employee Rights & Protections

Irish workers are entitled to: written employment contract, statement of pay, workplace safety, Right to Disconnect, discrimination protection, personal data protection, unfair dismissal protection, equal rights for part-time and fixed-term workers, whistleblower protection, business transfer protection, union access, and pay transparency.

07 — Payroll cadence

Payments

Payment frequency
Regular intervals not exceeding one month (monthly most common for salaried employees)
Payday
Typically the last week of the month; exact date set by employer and must be consistent.
08 — Off-boarding

End of employment in Ireland

Fair grounds for dismissal include: capability, conduct, capacity, redundancy, statutory restriction, or other substantial reason. Notice periods vary by tenure.

Immediate dismissal without notice is permitted for gross misconduct (e.g., assault, theft, serious policy breaches).

Statutory redundancy entitlement applies after 2 years of continuous employment. No mandatory severance exists for non-redundancy terminations, though notice pay is required.

09 — Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Four routes: run payroll from HQ for short-term arrangements; engage independent contractors for project-based work; establish an Irish company for direct employment; or use Remote& as Employer of Record. The EOR route is fastest for compliant hiring without a local entity.

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