Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very grateful for Deputy Connolly raising the issue again at this session. I will give her an update as requested.

For the benefit of the House and as the Deputy knows, the occupations lists for employment permits are currently being revised as part of an evidence-based review, which incorporates a public consultation to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to submit data on the extent of skills or labour shortages. Well over 100 submissions were received over the summer. This is ten times the number of submissions received since the last time this review was carried out.

The deliberative process is ongoing at present with submissions to the review under consideration by the interdepartmental group on economic migration policy with cross-Departmental membership including the Department of Health, which has policy responsibility for the dental sector. The group was convened in late October to oversee the review, consider all evidence and submissions and collect the observations from Departments with regard to shortages and impacts in their sectors.

The role of dental nurse is listed on the ineligible occupations list and, therefore, is not eligible for an employment permit at present. On submission did make reference to "dental nurse" in the course of the review. I am expecting a report on the review in the coming days, which I will then consider. When I am in a position to do so, I will report back on the outcome. For exact clarity, I hope to have this report on my desk to review over the weekend. I hope, therefore, to be able to engage with my fellow Ministers and publish something within the next ten days to two weeks at the very longest.

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