Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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143. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will add healthcare workers to the critical skills occupation list for employment permit applicants earning more than €32,000 per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32913/21]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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The employment permit system is managed through the operation of the critical skills and ineligible occupations lists which respectively prioritise specified in-demand skills and identify occupations for which a labour supply should be available in the EEA. The lists are subject to twice yearly, evidence-based reviews.

On 14 June, following the most recent review of the employment permit occupation lists, I announced 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 Health Care Assistant, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, and Speech and Language Therapist are now eligible for a General Employment Permit and Dieticians can apply for Critical Skills Employment Permit.

In light of COVID-19, increases in the aging population and consequent increases in demand for services, a significant number of extra Health Care Assistants will be required to provide sufficient long-term residential care for older people into the future. The removal of this occupation from the ineligible occupations list comes under the following framework:

- Attainment of a relevant QQI Level 5 qualification after 2 years employment in the State

- A minimum remuneration threshold of salary of at least €27,000  

The General Employment Permit is the main permit used by the State to attract non-EEA nationals in occupations of a more general nature. It requires a range of criteria be met including a labour market needs test demonstrating that the employer was unable to fill the position from the Irish and EEA labour markets.

Making the occupations of Health Care Assistant, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, or Speech and Language Therapist eligible for a Critical Skills Employment Permit would require consideration of the potential impacts, including on the domestic labour market and a detailed business case from the sector.  The next review will be announced shortly, with the launch of a public consultation. My Department continues to engage with the Department of Health on these issues.