Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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96. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permits issued in respect of non-EEA home care workers since the changes in December 2022 to the employment permits system for workers from outside the EEA to address skills shortages in the home care sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9167/23]

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.

The role of home care worker is subject to a quota of 1,000 permits.

Applicants must have an offer of employment (contract) in order to apply for an Employment Permit.

To comply with the Labour Market Needs Test requirements, 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 have been 8 permits issued from this quota.

All applications received are dealt with in order of date of receipt. Details of the changes announced and how to apply for a General Employment Permit for this role are available on the Department's website at www.enterprise.gov.ie.