Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

743. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a mechanism exists whereby a person can alter their pending general employment permit application to be considered as a critical skills employment permit application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21048/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Employment Permits Act 2024 introduced a provision that allows a permit holder to change a pending application from a general employment permit to a critical skills employment permit. This provision reduces the administrative burden on both the department and users of the system by eliminating the need for re-submitting of applications in this situation.

This change is part of broader reforms aimed at creating a more flexible and responsive employment permits system.

Applicants wishing to change the status of their application from a General Employment Permit application to a Critical Skills Application must ensure the role is eligible for a Critical Skills Permit, i.e. that it is listed on the Critical Skills Occupations List or the salary is in excess of €64,000.

The department's website provides information on applying for an employment permit including information on each permit type, the requirement to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test, Checklist documents for a General and Critical Skills Employment Permit, Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists, information on the new Employment Permits Online system and an FAQ document which answers the majority of common questions – enterprise.gov.ie/en/What-We-Do/Workplace-and-Skills/Employment-Permits.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

744. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a mechanism exists whereby a person can alter their current general employment permit to a critical skills employment permit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21050/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While the Employment Permits Act 2024 introduced a provision that allows a permit holder to change a pending application from a general employment permit to a critical skills employment permit, it is not permitted to make such a change once a permit has been issued. A new application would be required in that case.

The Department's website provides information on applying for an employment permit including information on each permit type, the requirement to undertake a Labour Market Needs Test, Checklist documents for a General and Critical Skills Employment Permit, Critical Skills and Ineligible Occupations Lists, information on the new Employment Permits Online system and an FAQ document which answers the majority of common questions – .