Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 18 November 2021

Public Accounts Committee

2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 32 - Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Chapter 6 - Covid-19 Restart Grant Schemes

9:30 am

Dr. Orlaigh Quinn:

I will explain what we do, which I think will answer the Deputy's question. We have charge of the skills needs in the economy and employment permits. Twice a year, we run an in-depth assessment of what skills are in the economy and what skills are needed, when considering employment permits. We do not do that ourselves. We do it collectively across Government, working with colleagues. We do not necessarily always have the data for some of those skills, including related to transport, but we expect our colleagues in the Department of Transport would have it. In the same way, we would not assess health needs, but we would certainly expect our colleagues in the Department of Health to know. We do a review twice a year. Based on that review, the Minister decides what sectors are open or not. The Department of Transport would be part of that review. We encourage people to come to the table with the needs as identified. From an enterprise perspective, we would certainly have a view that transport is important.

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