Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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48. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position regarding the establishment of a work permits quota for bus drivers from non-EU and non-EEA countries given the shortage of bus drivers for Irish private bus companies and public transport routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53858/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market.

The regime is designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill skills and labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term, and is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists which determine roles that are either in critical short supply or are ineligible for an employment permit. The system is vacancy led and eligibility is not determined by either sector or country of origin.

The role of Bus Driver is currently on the Ineligible Occupations List and, as such, an employment permit cannot be granted for this occupation.

In order to have an occupation considered for adding to or removal from the Occupations Lists, or for a quota to be created, recruitment difficulties should be demonstrated as solely due to shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Sectors are required to engage structurally with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.

Submissions will be invited from sector representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on the Department’s website throughout the consultation period when the next Review of the Occupational Lists commences.

My Department chairs the Interdepartmental Group to oversee the review process which includes membership drawn from senior officials of key departments including the Department of Transport who have policy responsibility for this sector. Officials from my Department are engaging with colleagues in the Department of Transport on the need for this role to be eligible for employment permits.

My Department continues to keep the employment permits system under review in light of changing labour market circumstances and the timing of the next Review of the Occupational Lists will be kept under consideration.