Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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206. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to the addition of a bespoke seasonal employment permit scheme for foreign workers for fruit-picking and other seasonal employments in the horticulture sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33296/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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A Review of Economic Migration Policy undertaken in 2018 concluded that while the employment permits system provides a robust framework to supplement skills and labour needs in the State, the current legislation imposes inflexibility in its operation. In order to increase the agility and responsiveness of the system, the Review recommended that new legislation be initiated.

The 2018 Review found that there is a clear role for time limited work permissions for seasonal contracts for typically 6-9 months, and that there is a strong demand for such a permit type. To meet that demand, the Seasonal Employment Permit has been devised, to provide for non-EEA nationals to work in the State temporarily while retaining legal domicile in a third country, for the purposes of employment in a sector of seasonal activity.

The Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill sets out to consolidate the existing legislation to create a more accessible statutory basis and greater flexibility for our economic migration system. A key feature of the Bill is the proposed introduction of the Seasonal Employment Permit.

In May 2023 Government gave approval for the Department to proceed with legal drafting of provisions for a Seasonal Employment Permit, ahead of Dáil Report Stage. It is planned that the Seasonal Employment Permit will initially be introduced on a pilot basis with a selection of companies in the horticultural (fruit and vegetable) sector.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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207. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if consideration would be given to increasing the number of physiotherapists under the critical skills occupations list in view of the shortage of physiotherapists in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33312/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that occupations included on the Critical Skills Occupations List are not subject to quota limits.

Following constructive engagement with the Department of Health, the occupation of physiotherapist was added to the Critical Skills Occupations List in June 2022. This change provides priority access to Ireland’s labour market by way of the Critical Skills Employment Permit for non-EEA nationals wishing to take up employment in the State as physiotherapists.

The Critical Skills Employment Permit is attractive for a number of reasons:

• Because the skills are identified as being in short supply, a Labour Market Needs Test is not required.
• Permit holders can apply for immediate family reunification from the Department of Justice. Once resident in the State, the dependants/partners/spouses of CSEP holders are eligible to apply for employment permits.
• Permit holders may apply to the Department of Justice for permission to reside and work without the requirement for an employment permit upon completion of the Critical Skills Employment Permit’s duration.