Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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152. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there is a cap in place for the number of work visas granted each year; if he will provide details of the number of work visas that have been granted in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8415/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Visa required nationals who wish to migrate to the State to take up employment must, in the great majority of cases, obtain a work permit before applying for a visa to travel to the State. In a minority of cases, for example, where visa required nationals wish to migrate for periods of less than six months, a work permit may not be required but the person must apply for, and be granted, a visa. There is no cap on the number of visas that may be granted.

The issue and renewal of work permits is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Where a person is granted a work permit and requires a visa in order to come to Ireland to take up employment, the matter is expedited by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service subject to normal immigration controls. Re-entry visas are issued to visa required work permit holders who wish to leave the State for short periods for business or personal reasons.

It is not possible to show separately figures solely for visas for the purpose of employment as data relating to employment visas are aggregated with a number of other categories such as short term business, conference and business permission visas, visas for medical professionals and event/performance visas.