The objectives of the career breaks scheme are to provide new job opportunities in the Education and Library Boards and facilitate employees who wish to take a career break.

A career break may be allowed for most purposes including further education, domestic responsibilities, starting one’s own business, maintaining a family/partner’s business or a stay abroad.

A career break will not be allowed for the purposes of taking up alternative salaried or wage earning employment in Northern Ireland within the meaning of Schedule E for income tax assessment unless the prior written approval of the Board has been obtained. Such approval will only be given in exceptional circumstances.