Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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504. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of non-EEA fishers that have been enrolled in the atypical work permit scheme for non-EEA fishers in the subsequent six years to date since its inception; the number of non-EEA fishers that are currently enrolled in the scheme; the number of non-EEA fishers currently working on the approximately 180 eligible vessels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3443/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Atypical Working Scheme was established as a cross Departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet, who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment's employment permit system.

The Scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the employment of non-EEA workers within defined segments of the Irish fishing fleet and was welcomed as a solution to the risk of exploitation and to guarantee employment rights and protections to non-EEA fishers availing of the Scheme.

A total of 479 applications, excluding renewal applications, have have been submitted for the AWS for seafishers since its commencement in February 2016, with 468 (97.7%) granted and 11 refused.

This AWS permission is renewable on an annual basis, subject to the scheme's criteria being met. However, all seafishers that held an AWS permission on 20 March 2020 have had that permission extended, with same terms and conditions attaching, on nine occasions most recently until 31 May 2022.

On 31 December 2021, there were 337 seafishers with permission under the scheme and entitled to work. My Department is responsible for the issuing of permission under the scheme and does not retain data on the numbers currently employed in that sector of the fishing industry.