Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 415: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the total number of work permits outstanding for persons employed in the construction industry; the number of new permits issued in the past twelve months; and the indicators used for deciding whether a sector is suffering a shortage of workers which would necessitate the issue of permits. [19310/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

On 31 May 2005 the work permits section of my Department had a total number of 957 outstanding work permit applications. The number of outstanding applications in respect of the construction industry is currently not available because outstanding applications are not categorised by sector. Between 1 January and 31 December 2004, 10,020 new work permits were issued, of which 1,057 were issued to the construction industry. From 1 January 2004 to date, 3,064 new work permits were issued, of which 109 were issued to the construction industry.

Government policy since 1 May 2004 is that employers should source their skills and labour needs from within the European economic area, EEA. In exceptional cases where such skills are not available in the EEA, employers may apply for a work permit for this purpose. The verification of the absence of such skills is effected by employers advertising vacancies with FÁS for a period of at least one month before making a work permit application.

My Department, Forfás and the expert group for future skills needs are currently engaged in research and consultations on the detailed issues entailed in the implementation of the new green card type arrangements, including the types and sources of skills for which permits should be granted.