John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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139. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits that have been applied for in Dublin for bus drivers in each of the years 2018 to 2021 and to date 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56494/22]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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There was one employment permit application submitted for the role of Bus Driver/Coach Driver in Dublin in 2021. No applications were received of the years 2018, 2019, 2020 or to date in 2022.

The role of bus driver is currently listed on the Ineligible List of Occupations for Employment Permits, positions in respect of which an employment permit shall not be granted.

In order for an occupation to be removed from the Ineligible List of Occupations, there would need to be a clear demonstration that recruitment difficulties are solely due to labour market shortages across the EEA and not to other factors such as salary and/or employment conditions. Organisations in the sector would need to submit a detailed business case, to provide the necessary evidence to substantiate their position.

To ensure that the Employment Permits system is responsive to changes in economic circumstances and labour market conditions, it is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and the Ineligible Occupations Lists which are subject to twice yearly reviews. These reviews are evidence based and are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, a public consultation process, input from the relevant Government Departments, the Economic Migration Inter-Departmental Group and is chaired by my Department.

The 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.