Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment the number of work permits granted each month to date in 2020; the countries from which the workers who were granted permits came; the number of each; the sectors for which the permits were granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29461/20]

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.

Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is intended to act as a conduit for key skills which are required to develop enterprise in the State for the benefit of our economy, while simultaneously protecting the balance of the labour market. The system is, by design, vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market, expanding and contracting in tandem with its inherent fluctuations.

The system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit. The occupations lists are subject to twice-yearly review which is predicated on a formalised and evidence-based process and involves consideration of the research undertaken by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (Solas), the Expert Group of Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the National Skills Council, and input by relevant Government Departments in addition to the public consultation phase. Account is also taken of contextual factors such as Brexit and in the current context COVID 19. The views and guidance of the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy, chaired by my Department, are also an important part of the decision-making process.

The statistics requested by the Deputy in relation to employment permits granted since 1st January 2020 to 4th October 2020 are set out in the attached document.

Statistics in relation to Employment Permits Granted from 1 January 2020 to 4th October 2020