Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment what steps he intends to take to expedite the applications for work permits in the processing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45507/23]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether he intends to extend the quota of meat processor operative permits in order to meet current demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45507/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The meat processing industry have been provided with access to the General Employment Permit over the last number of years, most recently with an additional quota of 425 permits made available in June last year. All quotas for meat processing operatives have now been filled.

These and other agriculture/agrifood quotas were opened with a proviso that a strategic review on labour attraction and retention in the sector be carried out in order to put in place more sustainable solutions for meeting the labour needs of the sector into the future. The review will influence the decision on the eligibility of the role for employment permits in the future.

The Economic Migration Policy Unit of my Department is actively engaging with other government departments including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider submissions received to the latest public consultation to review the lists with a report on the outcome expected in November.