Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a number of issues that I want to raise with the Taoiseach today. Over the last number of weeks I have met businesses across a range of sectors in Galway, from developers to healthcare providers. One of the main concerns they all have in common is a difficulty in trying to recruit staff. A lot of businesses, in particular those in the hospitality sector, which includes small restaurants and coffee shops, are very worried about their future and the viability of their business. A significant number have told me that they cannot operate at full capacity as they do not have the required number of staff to do so.

The issues they raised are the restrictions in employment permits and accommodation for their workers. One businessperson told me the only way he could secure staff was to provide accommodation for them. He was in the lucky position whereby he was able to provide accommodation for six staff members. People who are applying for jobs are now asking potential employers if they can secure accommodation for them, but most of them are not in a position to do that. The accommodation crisis is compounded by the staff shortage problem.

I have met a number of contractors who cannot get qualified staff such as blocklayers, plasterers and carpenters. As a result, they are not in a position to build which, in turn, has a huge knock-on effect on the housing supply. This situation is likely to get worse.

In response to a recent parliamentary question I tabled to the Minister for Health, I was informed of over 800 job vacancies in Galway’s main public hospitals, including more than 170 nursing and medical professionals. A recent survey by the Manpower Group showed that four in five Irish companies are struggling to attract talent as Ireland endures its worst skills shortage for 17 years. These staff and skills shortages are across all sectors of society, not just the ones I have referenced today. This has a knock-on effect on many parts of our society, for example by limiting economic growth, causing delays in dealing with our housing crisis and increasing waiting lists in our health service.

There is a major problem in the work permit system. It needs to be simplified to enable qualified people from abroad to apply for work permits and fill the much-needed positions in all sectors of our society as quickly as possible. Homecare workers were mentioned in this morning's Private Members' debate. My colleague Deputy Berry mentioned that those who come here from the Philippines are brilliant workers in the health and homecare sectors. The permit system for them should be simplified. I ask the Taoiseach to look at the whole process, make it a lot simpler and try to get much-needed workers into this country for the hospitality, construction and health services.

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