Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits which are currently outstanding and their distribution across the main sectors of economic activity; and if there are sectors in respect of which his Department is unwilling to issue work permits currently. [42274/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Work Permits Section of my Department has informed me the number of outstanding permits awaiting decision is 2,812. However the section does not identify separately, for permits awaiting decision, the distribution across the main sectors of economic activity.

In the aftermath of EU Enlargement, it is Government policy that employers should be able to source nearly all of their workforce needs from within the EU. Accordingly, only in cases where exceptional levels of skill and qualifications are needed for the job, and the employer has made meaningful attempts to find EEA nationals first, will my Department now consider work permit applications.

An ineligible list category is available on our Departments website, which sets out the ineligible sectors.