Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

5. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cause of the high volume of refunds of employment permit applications and the resultant processing delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21410/25]

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am submitting this question on behalf of Independent Ireland. What is the cause of the high volume of refunds in employment permit applications, which are resulting in processing delays?

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for his question. My Department has made significant progress in recent years in improving the employment permits processing system to ensure the service is responsive to business needs and prevailing economic conditions. Following a significant increase in demand in 2021 and 2022, the Department implemented an action plan, which increased resources to introduce effective methods of processing permit applications. The number of applications awaiting processing has been reduced from approximately 11,000 in January 2022, with processing timelines of up to 22 weeks, to just over 4,000 at the start of this year. As of 18 April, I am pleased to report that this number is under 2,000 and processing times for all permits have been reduced to within one to two weeks.

Improvements have also been made in respect of the refund process. Fees are refunded for a variety of reasons, for example, where an application has been submitted for a role that is ineligible for a permit, where the quota for the role has been reached, or where an applicant is refused.

Due to the overall backlog and high volume of demand in recent years, users were also experiencing delays in the refund process. However, following process improvements, the majority of refunds are now issued directly to the credit or debit card used to pay for the application within five working days.

My Department remains committed to offering an efficient employment permit service. This week, the employment permits unit launched a new permit processing system, employment permits online. This new cloud-based system replaces older technologies and will transform the way employment permits are applied for, processed and issued. By introducing a portal space with individual online accounts for both employers and employees, it will be easier for users to get up-to-date information on their applications. It will also provide users with more ownership of their accounts. The new employment permit system will make the application process easier, more secure, more intuitive and in so doing will reduce inaccuracies in the submission of applications, resulting in a more streamlined processing experience.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am delighted that the new portal is finally up and running. We have a bigger problem with this. The processing of permits is starting to work but there is not much point having a permit if people cannot get the visa with it and the Department is not speaking. Many people who are getting permits are not getting the visas. It is as if one Department is not talking to the other. While the Minister has excelled on the permit side the Department on the other side is not getting the visas through. We have had a lot of cases this week alone, the same as the cases that have been going on over the last three or four months, waiting for the visas. I compliment the Minister on the permit side, but we need to make sure the permits are followed with visas. They need to be in tandem to make sure that the people who want to come into this country legitimately can get here with their permits to get into employment and they also have the visas at the same time.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. Back in December 2022 the Government made a decision to implement a single application process for employment permits while also ensuring that the immigration permissions are developed in tandem with that. The new system that has been introduced and is currently live provides technology similar to that currently in place within the Department of Justice which will assist and provide the required infrastructure for a single processing between the respective Departments. There is a committee and sub-group, comprising a project management team that is co-ordinated by my Department and the Department of Justice, working on a single application process. We know we cannot have one without the other in order to have processing on time. We look forward to making significant progress in that regard.

Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I look forward to that. This week I have seen permits that came through and the visas came to us within two days of those. However, others go back two and three months. I am looking forward to this new system to see if it will work in tandem. Many companies are waiting for permits at the moment. Many people who have been working in companies here for a couple of years and want their families to come here are having problems getting visas for their families. I know of one person who has been working here for four years. His wife is a chemist and she cannot get in here for some unknown reason. Many chefs and other people with skills are working in the hospitality sector. They want their families to come here. They have the accommodation, but they cannot bring them here. We should do whatever we can to fast-track it. I acknowledge the new portal the Minister of State mentioned. Let us hope that it can speed things up even more.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I look forward to the Deputy's support in the implementation of this new system. It is reflective of the success of the Irish economy with over 2.8 million people currently employed. We have skills deficits in certain areas of expertise. Not just the general work permits but also the critical skills employment permits are essential to meet our future needs. The system has now been enhanced. Last year a record number of employment permits, over 38,000, were issued with the implementation of the online system and we want to enhance that further. I thank my predecessors, the Ministers of State, Deputies Higgins and Richmond, for their efforts in this regard. With trusted partners and employers we can certainly go further in order to implement an effective system.