Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of work permits granted by him for the years 2009-10 and to date in 2011 broken down by sector and nationality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26207/11]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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1My Department processes applications in respect of the different types of employment permits and all applications are processed in line with the Employment Permits Act 2006. It is current Government policy to issue new employment permits only in respect of:

· highly skilled, highly paid positions or;

· non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits or;

· where there is an officially recognized scarcity of workers of a particular type or qualification.

I set out hereunder the numbers of employment permits issued in 2009, 2010 and to-date in 2011. Detailed statistics on the numbers of permits issued over the last few years, broken down by sector and nationality can be found on my Department's website at http://www.djei.ie/labour/work permits/statistics.htm .

Employment Permits issued 2009 - 2011

* Includes new employment permits in relation to non-EEA nationals already in the State on valid employment permits who are changing employer.