Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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515. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to clarify a matter regarding work permits (details supplied). [10878/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Ireland operates a managed employment system, which seeks to maximise the benefits of economic migration and minimise the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-European Economic Area nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages in the State required to develop and support enterprise. The employment permits system is vacancy led and driven by the changing needs of the labour market. It is managed through the operation of the Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists. These lists determine employments that are either in high demand or are ineligible for consideration for an employment permit and are subject to periodic evidenced-based review to ensure the system is functioning as required

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that the role of Early Years Practitioner would fall under soc code 3233 which is on the ineligible list of occupations. Therefore, it is not currently possible to be granted an Employment in respect of this role.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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516. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the timeframe for the processing of work permit applications for non-critical skills occupations. [10879/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Employment Permits section of my Department informs me that as of 12th March, the current processing dates in respect of non-critical skills employment permit applications from standard employers is 27th February. For trusted partners (who make up approximately 90% of applications), the processing date is 11th March.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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517. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider a review of work permit policies to facilitate skilled workers from the United States who may be leaving due to cuts to state research and other policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11049/25]

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 managed through the operation of the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL). The CSOL identifies occupations for which there is a shortage in the EEA in respect of qualifications, experience or skills which are required for the proper functioning of the economy. Roles on the Critical Skills list are typically skilled professionals, with health and ICT the largest sectors eligible for such permits. The IOL identifies employments where there is a surplus of skills in the domestic and EEA labour market.

In order to maintain the relevance of the lists to the needs of the economy and to ensure the employment permits system is aligned with current labour market intelligence, these lists undergo evidence-based reviews which are guided by research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, the Labour Market and Skills Unit of my Department, SOLAS and by a public consultation.

The State’s general policy is to promote the sourcing of labour from within Ireland and the EEA, in line with EU Union Preference obligations. Where this is not possible, the employment permits system facilitates recruitment of non-EEA nationals who possess the requisite in-demand skills. Ireland’s economic migration regime is demand driven and focuses on key sectors and skills shortages, accommodating the entry of non-EEA nationals to fill those skills and labour gaps, in the short to medium term. However, this objective must be balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and that the shortage is a genuine one.

As the employment permit system is demand driven and based on the skills required, it is not limited or influenced by country of origin. If a particular occupation qualifies for an employment permit and all other relevant criteria have been met, citizens of any third country, including the United States of America, who have secured employment in the State are eligible to apply for employment permits.