Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the work he has done in this area and for improving the service dramatically. We had a huge problem with junior doctors coming in. It has been agreed that 1,000 permits will be issued as general employment permits for those who want to come in as home care workers. How will that be fast-tracked? There is a huge shortage of home care workers. We need to make sure we have the appropriate criteria and training for those who come in.

The second part to that question is as follows. If you have people here who are on stamp 2 visas already, will they be entitled to apply for one of those permits?

If a person has an employer who is prepared to employ them, are they entitled to apply for a permit even though they are already here in Ireland from outside the EU under a stamp 2 visa?

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