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HSE Shorter Working Year Scheme (2026): Term Time & Unpaid Block Leave Explained

Last verified 9 Nov 2026· Published 9 Nov 2026

By the Job Vacancies Ireland editorial team · How we verify our guides

Quick answer: The Shorter Working Year (SWY) scheme – the public-service scheme that replaced the old Term Time arrangement – lets eligible HSE staff take an agreed block of special unpaid leave each year, commonly in patterns of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 13 weeks, usually over the summer. Your post is held open, and you can ask to have your reduced annual pay spread evenly across the year so you still receive a steady paycheque every pay period instead of nothing during the leave. It is subject to management approval and the needs of the service.

If you want a long block off in the summer – to match school holidays, for example – without resigning or taking a full career break, the Shorter Working Year scheme is usually the route. This guide explains what it is, how the pay works, who can apply and how it compares with other options.

What is the Shorter Working Year scheme?

SWY is an arrangement under which you take one or more agreed blocks of unpaid leave in a leave year while remaining an employee. It is sometimes still called “term time”. Because the leave is unpaid, your gross pay for the year is reduced in proportion to the weeks taken – but the scheme is designed so you can keep working life and income predictable rather than simply going unpaid for a stretch.

How the pay works

The feature that matters most: you can usually opt to have your reduced salary averaged over the full 52 weeks. Instead of being paid normally for most of the year and nothing during the block, your lower annual total is divided evenly so each fortnight’s pay is the same. That keeps mortgage payments and direct debits steady. Ask HR/payroll which option applies and whether averaging is available for your pattern.

Block options

SWY is normally taken in fixed blocks – typically ranging from a couple of weeks up to about 13 weeks across the year, in set increments, taken as one block or split. The exact patterns and whether they can be split are set by the current circular, so check what is on offer for your grade and service when you apply.

Who is eligible

  • Generally you need a minimum period of service (often at least one year) – confirm the current requirement with HR.
  • Approval depends on the needs of the service: your manager can decline or adjust timing where cover can’t be arranged.
  • It is open across many grades, but how it interacts with rosters differs between clinical and administrative areas.

How to apply

Apply in advance through your line manager and local HR, on the form your area uses, well before the leave year – summer blocks in particular are usually requested months ahead because cover has to be planned. Deadlines and the application form are set locally, so ask HR for the current form and closing date rather than assuming last year’s.

SWY vs career break, work-sharing and unpaid leave

SWY is a block of unpaid leave within the year with your pay optionally smoothed. A career break is a longer continuous period out (typically six months to a few years). Work-sharing reduces your hours every week on an ongoing basis. Ordinary unpaid leave covers shorter, often ad-hoc absences. Pick the one that matches the shape of the time you need.

Does it affect leave, increments or pension?

Because the SWY block is unpaid, it can affect things that accrue with paid service – annual-leave accrual for the unpaid weeks, your increment date, and pensionable service for the period. The precise treatment depends on the scheme rules and your pension scheme, so get it confirmed in writing by HR and the pensions section before you commit. See our annual leave and HSE pension guides for background.

To see what the lower annual figure means in take-home terms, use our take-home pay calculator. Browse live HSE jobs or set email alerts. Official detail is on the HSE staff pages and Citizens Information.

This is general guidance. Block options, eligibility, deadlines and pay treatment are set by the current public-service circular and local HR – always confirm the details that apply to you before applying.

Frequently asked questions

What is the HSE Shorter Working Year scheme?
It is the public-service scheme (formerly called term time) that lets eligible HSE staff take one or more agreed blocks of special unpaid leave in a year, commonly in patterns from about 2 up to 13 weeks, usually over the summer, while keeping their post. It is subject to management approval and the needs of the service.
Do you still get paid during the shorter working year?
The leave itself is unpaid, so your gross pay for the year is reduced in proportion to the weeks taken. However, you can usually opt to have the reduced salary spread evenly across all 52 weeks, so you still receive a steady, equal payment each pay period rather than nothing during the block.
Who can apply for the shorter working year scheme?
Generally staff with a minimum period of service (often at least a year) across many grades, subject to management approval based on whether cover can be arranged. Confirm the current service requirement and the patterns available for your grade with HR.
How do I apply for the shorter working year?
Apply in advance through your line manager and local HR on the form your area uses, well before the leave year. Summer blocks are usually requested months ahead so cover can be planned. Deadlines and the form are set locally, so ask HR for the current version.
How is the shorter working year different from a career break?
The shorter working year is a block of unpaid leave within the year, with your pay optionally smoothed across 52 weeks. A career break is a longer continuous period out of work, typically six months to a few years, during which you are not paid. Work-sharing instead permanently reduces your weekly hours.

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