Can I claim expenses for jury service in Ireland?
No — the courts pay nothing and don't cover expenses; only lunch is provided. You are not paid by the courts for jury service, and travelling expenses aren't allowed — €0 is payable for attendance. The only thing provided is lunch, and only on days you actually serve as a sworn juror. Your real protection is at work: if you're an employee, your employer must by law let you attend and keep paying you as if you were at work, with no loss of other rights (this covers temporary and contract workers too). To be called you must be an Irish citizen aged 18+ on the Register of Electors. A jury is normally 12 members. Self-employed people get no compensation and may apply to be excused if jury service stops them earning. In short: no expenses — but employees keep their wages.
📋 The rules
- The courts pay nothing and cover no travel
- Only lunch is provided, on days you serve
- Employers must keep paying employees as normal
- Eligible: Irish citizens 18+ on the electoral register
- Self-employed get no pay — they can seek excusal
🔓 Exceptions
- You can be excused if 65+, a student, a doctor/nurse, or served in the last 3 years
- Jobseeker's recipients keep their payment but must tell the DSP
- The self-employed can apply to be excused if it stops them earning
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Under the Juries Act 1976 you can be fined for failing to attend without reasonable excuse, being unavailable when called, turning up unfit through drink or drugs, making false representations, or serving while ineligible or disqualified. You're disqualified if convicted of a serious offence, ever sentenced to 5+ years, sentenced to 3+ months in the last 10 years, or resident but not an Irish citizen. Employer breaches (failing to pay or release you) go to the WRC. Beware a myth: "the court reimburses petrol, parking or lost earnings" is false — it doesn't; your only financial protection is your employer's legal duty to keep paying your wages. To manage it: tell your employer, and apply to be excused only with a genuine reason.
📎 Official sources
- Citizens Information — jury service →
- Courts Service — your employment rights during jury service →
- Courts Service — jury service exemption →
❓ Frequently asked
Do I get paid for jury service?
Not by the courts. You receive no payment and no travel or other expenses for attending jury service — only lunch is provided on days you actually serve. However, if you're an employee, your employer is legally required to let you attend and to keep paying your wages as if you were at work.
Can I claim my travel costs?
No. The courts don't reimburse petrol, parking, public transport or any other costs of attending jury service. This is a common misconception. The only financial protection is for employees, whose employers must continue paying them; the self-employed get nothing and may instead apply to be excused if serving would stop them earning.
Does my employer have to pay me?
Yes. By law, your employer must allow you to attend jury service and must continue to pay you as though you were at work, without any loss of your other employment rights. This applies to temporary and contract workers too. If your employer refuses, you can bring a complaint to the Workplace Relations Commission.
Can I get out of jury service?
You can apply to be excused if you have a good reason — for example if you're aged 65 or over, a full-time student, a practising doctor, nurse or vet, or if you served on a jury within the last three years. You can't simply ignore a summons, as failing to attend without a reasonable excuse can bring a fine.
What if I'm self-employed?
Self-employed people aren't compensated for jury service under the Juries Act 1976, and the courts don't make up for lost income. If serving on a jury would prevent you from earning, you can apply to the court to be excused. Otherwise, you're expected to attend like any other eligible citizen.
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