25th June 2026 |
Notice
Section 8(2)(b) of the Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 requires the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to publish a notice indicating his intention to make regulations under the Act.
The proposed regulations will revoke and replace SI No 350/2001- Protection of Young Persons (Employment) Act 1996 (Employment in Licensed Premises) Regulations 2001. These regulations currently allow young people (aged 16-17) to work in licensed premises up to 11pm when:
- it is not the night before a school day, and
- the young person is not required to start before 7am the next day
The new regulations will extend the late-night hours working exemption to young persons employed in the food and beverage services sector, in addition to the licenced premises as currently obtained.
In both sectors, a supervisory requirement will be introduced to ensure that where a young person works until 11pm, they are supervised by a senior employee aged 18 years or over.
Under the 1996 Act, members of the public have 21 days, commencing on the date of publication of this notice, to make representations, should they so wish.
Submissions must be received no later than 5pm on 16 July 2026, the final day of the 21-day consultation period, by email to irsection@enterprise.gov.ie.
Topics:
Workplace and Skills, Industrial Relations