Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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40. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to grant work permits to chefs from outside the EU to work here, in view of the critical shortage of chefs here to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30221/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As regards the employment of non-EEA nationals, the State's general policy is to promote the sourcing of skills needs from within the workforce of Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA is made up of the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein). The employment permits system is intended to offer a solution for employers where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA. The system offers a conduit into the Irish labour market for non-EEA nationals with in-demand skills and is operated as a vacancy-led system.

Statutory lists set out which occupations are deemed highly skilled eligible occupations and which are ineligible for consideration for employment permits. Occupations not included on either list are considered eligible occupations but are subject to a labour market needs test.  Changes to access to the Irish labour market for specific occupations via the employment permits system are made on the basis of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) in tandem with a consultation process, as part of a package of measures to meet those skills needs. 

Currently, chefs with expertise in a non-EEA cuisine at the level of executive chef, head chef, sous chef and specialist chef are eligible for employment permits. My Department’s policy with regard to providing employment permits for these specific categories of chefs is that it is recognised that having a wide range of cuisines in the restaurant sector supports Ireland being an attractive destination for tourists.

In 2015 the EGSFN carried out a study on the future skills needs of the hospitality sector. The EGFSN report, which was published in November 2015, provides a clear and coherent framework for the development of talent in the hospitality sector in the years ahead to help drive both hospitality business and employment growth, one of the key goals of the Government’s Tourism Policy Statement – People, Place and Policy-Growing Tourism to 2025.  

The Study assessed skills demand at all NFQ levels, with a particular focus on career progression opportunities for those at lower skilled levels to help fill anticipated job openings. The report provides a set of recommendations designed to address the skills requirements of the sector over the period to 2020.  While the emphasis is on developing skills in the resident labour market, the report recommends that the role migration can play should be kept under review. 

The lists of highly skilled and ineligible occupations are reviewed on a twice yearly basis. The current review is nearing completion and consideration is being given by my officials to submissions received, including those from the hospitality sector, as part of the public consultation in April.  This review process will be completed in September and I will then be in a position to determine, based on the evidence available, if any changes are required to the categories of chefs that are eligible for employment permits.