Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Responsibility for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland rests with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).

The NMBI is an independent regulatory body established under the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011. While my Department is responsible for the oversight and governance of the NMBI, I have no role in the appointment of registered nurses who have qualified abroad.

As the approval of nurses is an operational matter for the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), I have referred the question to the NMBI for its attention and direct response to the Deputy.

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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To work in Ireland, a non-EEA National, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Employment Permits Section administer the employment permits system. The purpose of the Employment Permits System is to assists economic growth by facilitating the filling of key skills gaps which cannot be filled using domestic or EEA labour markets.

Healthcare Assistants may work in Ireland under a General Employment Permit (GEP). In 2023, a minimum annual remuneration of at least €27,000 was required for Healthcare Assistants/Home Carers to receive a GEP. This was proposed to increase to €30,000 in 2024.

However, following ongoing engagement with Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Health were informed in January 2024 that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment reached a decision to defer the increase for Healthcare Assistants until there is further engagement between Departments and stakeholders across the sectors.

It has been communicated that the €30,000 threshold for employment permits for Healthcare Assistants will be in place by January 2025, following this engagement.

Further to ensuring the employment offer meets the agreed minimum annual remuneration rate, the permit holder must have a relevant Level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) qualification or a relevant health and social care qualification comparable to a Level 5 QQI or achieve one within two years of starting employment as a Healthcare Assistant.

To date no application for an employment Permit has been received from the person concerned in the details supplied. Information on the application process is set out below.

An application can be made online on the Employment Permits Online System (EPOS). There is a User Guide (PDF document) available on the online system which guides the applicant through the process and details the documentary requirements for each employment permit type.

There are checklists available on the website to help applicants in the process – a dedicated checklist for the role of Healthcare Assistant is available at Health Care Assistant General Employment Permit Checklist (enterprise.gov.ie).

Employment permit applications must be received at least 12 weeks before the proposed employment start date.