Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want again to highlight the challenge. There was a feeling within hospitality that once the PUP was reduced recruitment and staff shortages would be less of an issue but that is not the case and unfortunately it is still a big issue. I will give the Minister of State an example of some of the issues. I spoke to one business recently that advertised for a chef position in June of last year and by October it had only received one CV, despite being quite a reputable business and that challenge is ongoing. Another business I spoke to was advertising on a monthly basis in the local newspapers to recruit in certain positions and it now has to do that on a weekly basis. It has to employ international recruitment agencies in order to try to recruit staff. There is a particular issue with chefs and visas for non-EU chefs, which needs to be expedited. On the whole we need to ensure there is an approach within the Government and the Department to ensure that hospitality and a career in it is a viable option and is attractive to young people.

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