Labour Court rejects public health nurses’ pension claim

The Labour Court recommended against a claim by around 280 public health nurses to buy back their training year for pension purposes, saying it would increase costs and breach section 5.6 of Building Momentum. The dispute between the Health Service Executive and the nurses, represented by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, was referred to the Court after conciliation failed. The recommendation was signed on 25 May 2022. The union argued that Circular 27 of 1966 entitled the nurses to have their training year counted for pension purposes. The HSE said they had not received an approved salary during training, a requirement for pensionable service. It estimated the cost of conceding the claim at almost €5 million, or €17,839 per person on the stated assumption.