Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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424. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will provide an update on general employment permits; if he will advise on consideration his Department have given to sectoral quotas and exemptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57045/23]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupation Lists has delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system, with changes to the eligibility of 43 occupation for either a General Employment Permit (GEP) or a Critical Skills Employment Permit (CSEP). A roadmap up to January 2026 for increasing salary thresholds for employment permits has also been introduced commencing the first adjustments to the Minimum Annual Remuneration thresholds from 17^thJanuary.

The main changes to the General Employment Permit include:

• 32 additional roles are now eligible to apply for a GEP by either removing the occupation fully from the Ineligible Occupations List of removing a skilled or niche role as an exception from the IOL
• Several occupations previously eligible for GEPs under quota have had their quotas extended as follows:
• 1,000 GEPs for meat processing operatives
• 350 GEPs for butcher/deboners
• 350 GEPs for dairy farm assistants
• 1,000 GEPs for horticultural workers
• A number of new quotas have also been opened up for occupations including vehicle technician and mechanics, textile operatives, support workers and forestry technicians.

From January, the minimum salary for General Employment Permits will increase from €30,000 to €34,000. For home carers, meat processors and horticultural workers, the minimum salary will increase to €30,000. These increases to a salary of at least €30,000 will bring permit holders in line with the minimum requirement to avail of family reunification as a starting point.