Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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146. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the date on which the review of Economic Migration – Review of the Occupational Lists being undertaken by his Department will be completed and published; his plans to enhance the occupational lists to include physiotherapists in view of the fact that there is a shortfall of physiotherapists, particularly in private physiotherapy practices which is contributing to lengthening waiting lists for treatment as highlighted in the submission to his Department by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will include a provision in order to recruit physiotherapists from outside the EU. [30819/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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On 14 June, following a comprehensive review of the employmernt permit occupation lists, I announced that I have decided to make changes to the employment permit system, with immediate effect, to address skills and labour shortages in the healthcare and nursing home sector.

The occupations of Healthcare Assistants, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, and Speech and Language Therapists are now eligible for an Employment Permit and Dieticians can apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit.

I decided to remove the occupation of Physiotherapist, as well as Health Care Assistant, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist and Speech and Language Therapist from the ineligible list following consideration of evidence establishing the difficulties the sector is having in recruitment, exacerbated by Covid-19 as well as the significant planned expansion in HSE recruitment.