Written answers

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Work Permits Applications Data

Photo of Maurice QuinlivanMaurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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510. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of work permits applied for in each of the years 2010 to 2018; the number refused; the number granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1204/19]

Photo of Maurice QuinlivanMaurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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511. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the average waiting time for a work permit to be processed; the number of permits awaiting processing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1205/19]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 511 together.

The Employment Permits section in my Department has experienced a large increase in demand for employment permits throughout 2018 due to our continued economic success, growing labour market and reduced labour surplus, which has in turn contributed to increased processing times for applications.

In 2018, 16,768 employment permit applications were accepted, a 27% increase over 2017 (13,217). Over the same period 13,398 permits were granted, an 18% increase over 2017 (11,354) so productivity is improving. My officials inform me that, at the end of 2018, approximately 2,620 applications were awaiting processing.

Good progress had been made in reducing processing times in Q4 2018, with processing times for Trusted Partners falling from 7 weeks to 5 weeks, and from 16 weeks to 12 weeks for standard applications by December last. This was achieved through a combination of increased resources, staff working overtime and some ICT and other operational improvements. In addition, solutions are also being developed to eliminate the impact on processing times of seasonal challenges and work is underway on developing a new IT system which will further reduce processing times.

Finally, the statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table:

YearApplications AcceptedPermits GrantedPermits Refused
20107,9677,8771,212
20116,0545,3741,216
20124,9254,139965
20134,6023,923547
20146,3035,496588
20159,0217,265906
201611,3179,3831,651
201713,21711,3541,516
201816,76813,3981,38

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