Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of employment permits issued for chefs in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10247/19]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy regarding the number of employment permits issued for chefs in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019 is set out below.

The employment permits system is managed through the operation of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List (HSEOL) and the Ineligible Categories of Employment List (ICEL). These lists are reviewed twice yearly to keep pace with rapid labour market changes and to be proactively identifying and addressing shortages as they arise.

In March 2018, following a review of the Highly Skilled and Ineligible lists of Employment earlier in 2018, which included a public consultation, I announced the removal of certain chef grades from the ineligible occupation list subject to a quota of 610 Employment Permits, with a maximum of two new Employment Permits per establishment within this quota.  This quota relates to new chefs only, renewal Employment Permits do not count towards this quota.

As at 27th February 2019, 263 permits have issued out of the total quota of 610 (this figure is included in the statistics in the following table).

A review of the Q4 2018 occupation lists is being currently being finalised and my officials, in consultation with officials from a number of lead policy Government Departments, are actively considering the submissions received. I expect, in the very short term, to receive proposals, based on the evidence presented and extensive consultation with the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration, for changes to both the ineligible and highly skilled occupational lists.

The number of Employment Permits issued for chefs from 2015 - to date are as follows:

Employment Permits Issued for Chefs