Written answers

Wednesday, 3 May 2023

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Work Permits

Photo of Patrick CostelloPatrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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138. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department will add general labourers to the critical skills visa list, given the labour shortage and ongoing housing crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20443/23]

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, 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 system is vacancy led and managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL).

The Lists undergo periodic evidence-based review involving a public/stakeholder consultation and are informed by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and SOLAS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit. Consideration is also taken of the views of the Economic Migration Policy Interdepartmental Group which is chaired by my Department and includes representatives from a number of relevant Departments.

The construction sector has been the subject of reviews in recent years, with a significant number of occupations added to the Critical Skills Occupations List and others removed from the Ineligible Occupations List. These changes were made in recognition of the challenges faced by the sector and strong evidence of continued labour shortages with the result being that almost all roles in the construction sector are now eligible for employment permits.

However, the occupation of General Labourer - or Construction Operative - is currently on the Ineligible Occupations List and, as such, an employment permit cannot be granted for this role. An occupation may be considered for removal from the IOL and inclusion on the CSOL on the basis of evidence submitted by the relevant sector representatives and provided:

  • there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work;
  • development opportunities for Irish/EEA nationals are not undermined;
  • genuine skills shortage exists and that it is not a recruitment or retention problem;
  • education, training, employment and economic development policies are supported; and
  • attempts by the sector to attract Irish/EEA nationals have not been successful.
Sectors are also required to engage structurally with the public employment service of the Department of Social Protection.

While a date has yet to be announced, I wish to advise the Deputy that the public consultation phase of the next 'Review of the Occupations Lists' is expected to open in the coming months. In advance of its commencement, stakeholders in the construction sector may wish to refer to the Department's website in order to register to receive notification of the opening of the next public consultation to review the occupational lists.

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