Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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167. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of non-EEA home care support workers who have been employed since these workers have become eligible for employment permits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3301/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Changes to the employment permits system for workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to address skills shortages in Ireland’s Home Care sector were announced on 16 December 2022.

Applications for General Employment Permits (GEP) in respect of this role can only be submitted when a valid Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) has been undertaken. To satisfy a valid LMNT, an employer must advertise the vacancy with the Department of Social Protection Employment Services/EURES employment network for at least 28 consecutive days without any edits or amendments.

To date there has been no Employment Permits issued in respect of non-EEA homecare workers form the quota of 1,000 announced in December 2022.