Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 295: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her Department has adopted a policy that work permit applications will not be accepted from people who have been made redundant where it took over three months to secure a new offer of employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20585/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that the Employment Permits Section will examine, on a fast track basis, new applications for Employment Permits made by foreign nationals who have been made redundant. Applications will be accepted for a three-month period after the employment has been terminated by reason of redundancy. Applications outside of this timeframe have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis and granted in exceptional circumstances.

For these applications, the normal requirements relating to the labour market needs test (ie. Advertising the position in the local press and with Fás/Eures) and the ineligible job categories are not applied. This policy is kept under review and will be updated should the need arise.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on granting work permits to the worker rather than the employer in the case of spouses of health workers in view of the fact that the procedure of having to apply for permits hampers the search for work and creates an obstacle which deters employers. [20609/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Permits Section of my Department informs me that under the Employment Permits Act 2006, which was enacted on the 1st January, 2007, all employment permits are now granted and issued to the employee. The Act also allows for an application for an employment permit to be made by either the employer or the employee. All Employment Permits issued by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are granted specific to the employment in respect of which the application was made. In addition, the Spousal/Dependant Scheme was introduced to give greater ease of access to employment for spouses/dependants of all employment permit holders, who have been admitted to the State under Family Reunification by:

Not requiring the employer in question to advertise the job with FÁS/EURES in advance of making a work permit application,

Accepting applications for jobs in categories that would otherwise be ineligible for work permits, and

Exempting the application from the work permit fee. Full details of the Scheme are available on my Department's website at www.entemp.ie.