Mark Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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201. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider raising the quota or removing it for the category healthcare assistant-community based, given the shortage of healthcare assistants in the community at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18389/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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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 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.

The employment permits system is managed through the operation of two Occupations Lists: the Critical Skills Occupations List, 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.

For some roles, when they are removed from the IOL, they are subject to a quota. The quota system is designed to sustainably integrate this new source of workers into the labour market and to test the labour market needs. The role of healthcare assistant is not subject to a quota. The role of Care workers or home carer was removed from the IOL in February 2023 subject to a quota of 1000 permits. Following consultation with the sector and in light of the recruitment difficulties experienced, the quota was firstly extended by 500 permits in September 2024 and I am pleased to say that it further increased by an additional 1000 permits in March 2025. As of April 8th 2025 there are over 1,050 permits remaining in the quota.

Where a sector wishes to have certain occupations removed from the quota system, the sector should make an evidence-based submission that demonstrates that the demand for these occupations is such that a quota is no longer necessary. This should be supported by the department with lead responsibility for the sector, in this case the Department of Health.

The next review of the Occupations Lists will take place in Summer 2025.