Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will indicate the number of applications for work permits received in his Department in each of the past four years to date; the number of such applications which met the criteria to qualify; the number of applications granted, refused or pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42056/12]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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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;

- positions requiring specialist or scarce skills, expertise or qualifications which cannot be filled else wise.

I set out hereunder for the information of the Deputy the numbers of permits which have met the criteria and which have been issued, the numbers who have not met the criteria and have been refused, the numbers withdrawn by the applicants prior to a decision being made and the total of applications processed for each of the past 4 years to date.

The Employment Permits Section currently has approximately 400 applications on hand awaiting a decision.