In 2003, the Labour Court recommended that St. Bernard Group Homes - Fethard fully implement national agreements on additional annual leave and unsocial-hours premiums for childcare workers and leaders. The recommendation was signed on 15 December 2003. The Irish Municipal, Public And Civil Trade Union said the agreements applied to comparable health-service staff. The agency said it had not received funding for the payments and could not self-fund the estimated €119,000 cost for 2001–2003. The Court noted that the agency was fully funded by the South Eastern Health Board and saw no reason the agreements should not be implemented.