The Labour Court will issue its recommendations in the health support workers dispute within 10 working days.
SIPTU has confirmed the move after spending six days in talks at the court, looking at ways to break the deadlock in the row with management.
The dispute centres on a pay issue related to a job evaluation scheme.
In a statement, SIPTU's Paul Bell said: "We welcome the news that the court is now in a position to issue recommendations aimed at resolving our longstanding dispute within 10 working days.
"We would like to thank the members of the Labour Court for their hard work and efforts over the last number of weeks and our members for the patience and resolve they have shown throughout this process so far."
10,000 support workers and chefs from 38 hospitals and health centres are involved in the dispute.
It revolves around a job evaluation scheme which the workers took part in under the Public Service Pay Agreement.
The evaluation found the staff are underpaid and should be shifted to a higher band.
However, unions say the Government has failed to live up to their commitments under the agreement.
Thousands of surgeries and appointments were cancelled when the workers involved took to the picket lines for the first 24-hour strike last month.
However, further planned strike days were called off to allow for a Labour Court hearing.
Health support staff include health care assistants, lab aids, hospital theatre workers, porters and cleaners.
Hospital chefs were separately balloted and also voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action.
