Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on removing the specified profession (details supplied) from those permitted under the work permit scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12088/09]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have no plans at present to add this occupation to the list of job categories ineligible for work permits. However, applications for work permits for meat de-boners will continue to be subject to a strict labour market needs test intended to maximise opportunities for filling of vacancies from within the Irish labour market and wider EEA. In addition, in order to facilitate the development of a wider indigenous skills pool for the meat industry, my Department through its key training providers FÁS and Skillnets, supports the provision of a number of FETAC accredited training programmes for butchers and de-boners. Such training provision recognises that the development and maintenance of skills are pivotal to keeping this key export industry operating in a competitive and efficient manner.

According to a 2008 study conducted by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in FÁS for the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, there were 6,300 butchers/meat de-boners employed in Ireland in 2007 of which 850 were from outside of the EU. Data for 2008 indicates a decline in the numbers of non-Irish nationals employed in this sector and an increase in the proportion of Irish nationals employed.