Labour Court recommends restoring HSE South subsistence payments for dental assistants

The Labour Court recommended restoring subsistence allowances for dental surgery assistants in Kerry and Cork North Lee after finding the entitlement had been withdrawn unilaterally. It also said HSE South should engage with the Irish Municipal, Public And Civil Trade Union before changing the eligibility criteria. The union said staff in other HSE South areas received the payments under national rules, while assistants in Kerry and Cork North Lee had gone without them. HSE South said payments were available when staff incurred substantial extra meal costs, but opposed automatic allowances. The recommendation was signed on 8 March 2016.