Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is considering any changes to the ineligible list of occupations for employment permits such as the removal of farm workers from the list to address labour shortages in the agricultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7972/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Ireland operates a managed employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is vacancy-led and managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL). In framing policy regarding employment permits, consideration is given to wider policy instruments that are also available in meeting the challenges presented by skills shortages. Economic migration is intended to complement the primary policy objective of Government, namely, the upskilling of the resident population at all levels. However, where specific skills prove difficult to source within the EEA, and where such recruitment may benefit the State’s economic or social development, the employment permits system enables us to supplement our domestic skills and labour supply by allowing the recruitment of nationals from outside Ireland and the European Economic Area (EEA).

The 2023 Review of the Employment Permits Occupations Lists delivered comprehensive changes to the employment permits system effective from 2024. In recognition of the recruitment challenges faced by the farming and horticultural sectors, a number of new quotas were introduced for occupations such as pig managers and pig farm assistants, making them eligible for the General Employment Permit (GEP).

In addition, a number of occupations already eligible for GEPs under quota had their quotas extended, such as dairy farm assistants and horticultural workers.

With the exception of those in employment as dairy farm assistants or pig farm assistants, the remaining roles of Farm Worker considered as falling under the Standard Occupational Classification code ‘9111 – Farm Workers’ are currently on the IOL and cannot be considered for an employment permit.

An occupation may be considered for inclusion in, or removal from the occupations lists on the basis of evidence submitted by the relevant sector representatives and provided:

• there are no suitable Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work;
• development opportunities for Irish/EEA nationals are not undermined;
• genuine skills shortage exists and that it is not a recruitment or retention problem;
• education, training, employment and economic development policies are supported; and
• the skill shortage exists across the occupation, despite attempts by industry to train and attract Irish/EEA nationals to available jobs.