Overseas healthcare assistants in Ireland are urging the government to grant them the same flat-rate expenses as their nursing counterparts. Currently, nurses enjoy a tax refund exceeding €700 for uniforms and essential costs, a benefit received by 100% of nurses in the country. Healthcare assistants argue that they, too, should be entitled to this tax refund.
While the Safety, Health, and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 mandate employers to provide protective gear, healthcare assistants were not initially included. Although eligible for the same benefits, many healthcare workers don’t claim these expenses. The Association of Overseas Healthcare Assistants has formally requested the Department of Finance and Revenue to extend the tax refund to healthcare assistants. Both ministries have assured a sympathetic consideration of this pressing issue.