Staff who are breastfeeding after returning from maternity leave are entitled to breastfeeding breaks for up to 1 hour per normal working day.
The breaks may be taken until your child’s second birthday, if needed.
Staff working reduced hours or longer days can take the breaks on a pro-rata basis.
Breastfeeding Policy for Staff Working in the Public Health Service (PDF, 300 KB, 26 pages)
Amount of breaks you can take
You are entitled to time off at work for breastfeeding breaks of up to 1 hour per normal working day. This is in addition to your normal rest breaks.
Age of the child
You can take breastfeeding breaks up until your child’s second birthday.
How to take your breastfeeding breaks
You and your manager can decide how you should take your breaks.
Options include:
- 1 break of 60 minutes
- 2 breaks of 30 minutes
- 3 breaks of 20 minutes
If there are no breastfeeding facilities in your workplace, you may reduce your working day by 1 hour without loss of pay. This needs to be agreed with your line manager and fit within the demands of the service (in so far as is possible).
Breastfeeding breaks can be taken every working day. The breaks cannot be carried forward or banked as a different type of leave.
Change in your breastfeeding needs
Tell your manager if your needs change. For example, you want to change how you take your breaks to help with milk supply, or you stop breastfeeding and no longer need breaks.
Breastfeeding facilities
A room will be made available to you to express your breast milk. This room may also be used for other purposes, but another room will be provided if it’s already in use. Examples of possible rooms include offices, consultation or treatment rooms, meeting rooms, or staff rooms.
You can use your normal work area if it:
- has adequate privacy
- is clean
- is comfortable for you
Toilet facilities are not suitable for breastfeeding or expressing milk.
Manager review of breastfeeding breaks
It's important for breastfeeding staff to express breast milk at work to maintain milk supply and reduce infection risk due to being separated from their baby.
Managers should:
- check during the first month back how the breaks are working
- support any requested changes, such as switching from two 30-minute breaks to three 20-minute breaks
- review breaks every 3 months, or sooner if needs change (such as the facilities no longer being suitable or the staff member stops needing breaks)
How to apply
Apply for breastfeeding breaks using the Breastfeeding Breaks Application Form HR117.
You should apply at least 4 weeks before you plan to return to work or take breastfeeding breaks.
Before returning to work, you and your manager should agree how you will take breastfeeding breaks. Your manager will need to see proof of your child’s date of birth. This is part of the application process to identify when breastfeeding breaks will end.
Related document
National HR Employee Helpdesk
Phone: 1800 444 925
Email: ask.hr@hse.ie
The helpdesk is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 12 noon