Written answers

Tuesday, 1 June 2010

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation

Work Permits

10:00 am

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation the position regarding an application for a work permit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [23163/10]

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Employment Permits Section of my Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits (Green Cards Permits, Work Permits, Spousal/Dependant Permits and Intra-company Transfer Permits). All applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006.

Due to the prioritisation of business needs of my Department, it was necessary to re-deploy a significant number of staff in the Employment Permits Section to the Redundancy Payments area in early 2009 where there is a strong need for additional resources to process payments to those who have lost their jobs. This has resulted in currently higher processing times for some of the permit types and appeals. In the priority high skills area of Green Cards and Intra Company Transfers, applications are still being processed within 15 working days. In relation to Work Permits, Spousal applications and appeals, measures have been put in place to address the current backlog.

I can report that significant progress has been made in reducing the backlog in these areas from 3,000 in August 2009 to 2,000 in May 2010. The Employment Permits Section is now processing Work Permit applications received in the first week of March 2010.

I wish to advise the Deputy that a Work Permit application in respect of the person concerned was received in the Employment Permits Section of my Department on the 9th April 2010. A decision will be due on this application in about 3-4 weeks.

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