Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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83. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is aware of the difficulty being experienced by companies in the motor industry, including companies with HGVs, buses, domestic and commercial vehicles, in finding trained technicians and mechanics; if work permits for vehicle technicians are limited by his Department; if he is satisfied the current limit meets the needs of these companies; the plans to address this difficulty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39487/24]

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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My Department has been made aware of the difficulties experienced by employers in the motor industry and has made general employment permit quotas available to address this. Under the review of the occupations lists conducted in 2023, 20 employers and motor industry representatives submitted information on the skills shortages experienced by the sector. These submissions were considered by an Interdepartmental Working Group, which included the Department of Transport, as well as labour market experts. On the basis of these submissions, my Department has made mechanic and vehicle technician roles eligible for general employment permits.

In order to sustainably integrate this new source of workers into the labour market and to test the labour market needs, employment permits for these occupations were provided under quota. A breakdown of the roles made eligible, and their quotas, is listed in the below table.

Typically quotas are not automatically extended when they are exhausted and further engagement from the sector is generally required. However, in this case, given how recently the review of the occupations lists occurred and that the continued need for third country workers has been demonstrated, an extension of these quotas is currently under consideration and a decision in this regard will be made in the next weeks.

Where a sector wishes to have a role fully removed from the ineligible occupations list (i.e. not subject to a quota), the sector should make an evidenced-based submission that demonstrates a continuing need for access to employment permits for the role. This should be supported by the department with lead responsibility for the sector, in this case the Department of Transport. I welcome any such submission from the sector and affirm that officials from my Department will engage constructively with the submission, and the Department of Transport, should one be received.