Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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262. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will advocate for the expansion of the visa eligibility criteria to non-EU nationals to fill hospitality and tourism vacancies, given the shortage in staff for the sector. [57532/22]

Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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I am advised by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment that Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is vacancy-led and designed to accommodate the arrival of non-EEA nationals to fill labour gaps for the benefit of our economy, in the short to medium term, and is managed through the operation by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 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 lists are subject to regular, evidenced-based review incorporating available research and a public consultation, providing an opportunity for stakeholders to submit information and perspectives on the extent of skills or labour shortages. Account is taken of educational outputs, sectoral upskilling and known contextual factors, such as the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, and their impact on the labour market. Submissions to the review are considered by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy with membership drawn from key Government Departments including my own Department which, as lead policy department for the tourism sector, may provide observations on the occupations under review.

In response to requests from my Department and the hospitality sector over the last number of years, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has introduced a number of changes to widen access to the General Employment Permit for certain occupations in the sector. All grades of Chef have been eligible for the General Employment Permit since 2019, with restrictions such as quotas or limits per establishment also removed. Experienced Executive Chefs, Head Chefs, Sous Chefs, Chefs de Partie and Commis Chefs can apply for a General Employment Permit to work in a restaurant establishment, at a remuneration level of at least €30,000.

In October 2021, further changes were announced introducing a new quota of 350 General Employment Permits for the sector for catering and bar managers, hotel and accommodation managers, restaurant and catering establishment managers as well as publicans and managers of licensed premises. Of this quota, I understand that 293 permits remain available.

I am advised that the timing of the next Review of the Occupations List is currently under consideration by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. When open, submissions will be invited from sectoral representative bodies and interested parties via the Public Consultation Form which will be accessible on that Department’s website. Officials in my Department, along with Fáilte Ireland, have already assured industry stakeholders of their support and assistance in the process when it opens.