Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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57. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of employment permit applications received to date in 2025, and the number of permits issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32941/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is committed to delivering an efficient and responsive employment permit system which supports businesses and ensures that we are positioned to maximise the benefits of economic migration. The system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills and/or labour shortages required to develop and support enterprise for the benefit of our economy.

Over the past three years, the department implemented an action plan which increased resources and introduced more efficient methods of processing permit applications. The measures have resulted in significant reductions in waiting times and a vastly improved user experience

The Employment Permits Section of the Department informs me that as of the 13th of June 2025 there have been 14,562 employment permit applications received and 14,625 employment permits have been issued.

As of 16 June 2025, the department is processing new applications for General Employment Permits in 19 business days, and for Critical Skills Permits in 12 business days.