Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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118. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the contingency plans in place for the extension of validity for workplace employment permits in cases in which they are due to expire in the short-term and persons with expired workplace permits are not permitted to work; the way in which renewals can be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25089/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In March 2020, the Employment Permits Section of my Department implemented a COVID-19 contingency plan to ensure that the employment permit regime could continue to operate throughout the crisis. Since 30th March, the employment permit system has been operating fully remotely and online.

Operational practices have been adjusted to replace the paper-based elements of the service to allow for a fully online process involving electronic/scanned documents and all decisions/outcomes now issue via e-mail rather than by post. Agreement was reached with the Immigration Service Delivery in the Department of Justice and Equality on arrangements to introduce, on a temporary basis, a type of “e-employment permit” and a similar soft copy process to transition to permanent residence permission.

Applications for employment permits, including renewals, may be submitted online via the Employment Permits Online System which also provides intuitive advice and information on the eligibility requirements and relevant criteria. In order for a renewal application to be considered, it must be submitted to my Department no earlier than three months before the permit is due to expire or within four weeks of the permit expiry date. An employment permit holder may continue to work whilst their renewal application is being processed. A suite of information is also provided on my Department’s website with advice on the different types of permits, remuneration and other eligibility criteria, employer checklists and an FAQ document which answers the majority of the most common questions, all of which are available through this link - .

Employment Permits Section is fast tracking and prioritising employment permits for health service workers to ensure rapid deployment of much needed additional and key front-line staff. Since mid-March, a total of 3,099 permits for health care workers have been expedited and issued.

Full details in relation to the contingency arrangements introduced by the Employment Permits Section in response to the pandemic can be accessed on my Department's website through the following link:

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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119. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the options open to a person (details supplied) in cases in which they have an employment permit which is due to expire in the short-term in view of the fact that persons with expired workplace permits are not permitted to work; the way in which a renewal can be facilitated in cases in which the person remains able to fulfil the conditions of issuance; the steps that are taken in cases in which the permit expires and they are no longer permitted to work past the valid date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25090/20]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In order to work in the State all non-EEA nationals require a valid employment permit or relevant immigration permission from the Minister for Justice and Equality which allows them to reside and work in the State without the requirement for an employment permit.

The Employment Permits Section of my Department inform me that on 4th September 2020 a Critical Skills Employment Permit issued in respect of the named person (details supplied). This permit is valid until 3rd September 2022.

Applications for employment permits, including renewals, may be submitted online via the Employment Permits Online System which also provides intuitive advice and information on the eligibility requirements and relevant criteria. A suite of information is also provided on my Department’s website with advice on the different types of permits, remuneration and other eligibility criteria, employer checklists and an FAQ document which answers the majority of the most common questions, all of which are available through this link - .

Employment Permits granted relate to employment permission only and at all times the permit holder is required to have current appropriate immigration permission from the Department of Justice and Equality to allow them undertake employment in the State. Any queries in relation to immigration permissions or visas fall within the remit of my colleague. Ms. Helen McEntee TD., Minister for Justice and Equality.