Labour Court rejects worker’s ongoing allowance claim against Mid Western Health Board

The Labour Court rejected a worker’s claim for an ongoing dual responsibility allowance and treated an earlier €5,000 payment as meeting her claim for retrospective payment. In its decision dated 3 April 2003, the Court also recommended an open competition for the Chief Audiologist post and amended the Rights Commissioner’s recommendation. The worker, represented by the Irish Nurses' Organisation, had worked as a staff nurse at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Dooradoyle, Limerick, for about 17 years. The union said she continued to combine nursing and audiology duties; the Board said nursing was not required for the audiologist role. The Court said management would provide nursing services if needed, so there was no basis for an ongoing allowance.