Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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286. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans to increase the number of work permits for HGV mechanics beyond the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, considering the cap has already been exceeded and no further permits can be issued until further action is taken by the Minister; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13165/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permit applications for HGV mechanics that were refused by his Department since the quota of 200 permits, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, was reached; his views on whether there are now sufficient numbers of HGV mechanics in Ireland without the need to increase the quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13166/25]

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if applications for work permits for HGV mechanics who were refused due to the quota of 200, as set out under Statutory Instrument No. 680/2023, being reached can be accepted in a future round of work permits without the employer having to re-enter the 28-day advertising period and the 90-day deadline to get the applications submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13167/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 to 288, inclusive, together.

Ireland operates a managed, vacancy-led employment permits system maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising the risk of disrupting Ireland’s labour market. This approach complements the primary policy objective of Government to upskill the resident population at all levels. Where specific skills prove difficult to source within the European Economic Area (EEA), and where the recruitment for such skills may benefit the State’s economic or social development, the employment permits system enables Ireland to supplement our domestic skills and labour supply by permitting the recruitment of nationals from outside Ireland and the EEA.

One of the methods used to ensure that skills cannot be found in the EEA is the Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT), which first advertises a role to those already in the local and EEA labour markets before an application can be made for an employment permit. The LMNT underpins the Government’s employment creation objectives by requiring employers in the State to hire in a balanced manner from the local labour market and ensures that the State complies with EU Union preference obligations.

Under the rules of the LMNT, the advertisement must be reissued if the initial posting occurred more than 90 days before the application for an employment permit is made. This requirement is set out in the Employment Permits Act 2024 and ensures that the labour market is regularly tested to ensure there is no local or EEA labour available. Failure to meet this requirement will result in the employment permit not being issued.

The employment permits system is managed through the operation of two Occupations Lists: the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL), which identifies critical occupations for which there is a shortage in the EEA and the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL), which identifies occupations for which there is a sufficient labour pool within the EEA. The Occupations Lists undergo periodic evidence-based reviews which involve a public/stakeholder consultation. These reviews are informed by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, SOLAS Skills and Labour Market Research Unit and the Economic Migration Policy Interdepartmental Group which is chaired by my department and includes representatives from a number of relevant policy departments. Outside of the formal review process, my department accepts submissions for amendments to the Occupations Lists at any time, with support from the relevant department with policy responsibility.

My department has been aware of difficulties experienced by employers in the motor industry in recent years and received submissions regarding the same in the 2023 Review of the Occupations List. To assist the sector, it was decided to grant access to General Employment Permits (GEPs) to the role of HGV/bus mechanic under a quota of 200 permits. The quota system is designed to sustainably integrate this new source of workers into the labour market and to test the labour market needs. This quota has now expired and officials from my Department have been in contact with the Department of Transport regarding this matter.

Following the expiry of the quota, 8 applications for new employment permits have been refused.

Typically, quotas are not automatically extended when they are exhausted. Further engagement from the sector is generally required. Where a sector wishes to have a quota extended, or 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. This submission can be done within a formal review of the Occupational Lists - which is planned for later this year - or at any time outside of a formal review.

This Department welcomes submissions from sectors experiencing labour shortages. Officials from my Department will engage constructively with any submission made.