John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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27. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average processing times for employment permits this year; how this compares with the same period last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32945/25]

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.

Following a surge in demand for employment permits in recent 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.

One of the central aspects of the action plan was to implement a new and improved system for processing permits. The new system, Employment Permits Online, launched in April, following three years of development. The cloud-based system transforms the way in which we process and issue permits, and the portal access provides employers and applicants with up to date access on their applications.

The Employment Permits Act (2024) moved several operational matters to secondary legislation so that the system would be even more agile.

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. For the same period last year the processing timelines were 21 business days for General Employment Permits and 14 business days for Critical Skills permits.

The total number of applications for employment permits processed in Q1-2025 was 11,500, 8.5% higher than the 10,600 processed in Q1-2024.

To date in 2025 there have been 14,562 applications received and 14,625 permits have issued. There are approximately 2,000 applications currently awaiting processing.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for an update on the current processing times for general employment permit and critical skills employment permit applications; the efforts being made by his Department to reduce application processing times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33136/25]

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.

Following a surge in demand for employment permits in recent 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.

One of the central aspects of the action plan was to implement a new and improved system for processing permits. The new system, Employment Permits Online, launched in April, following three years of development. The cloud-based system transforms the way in which we process and issue permits, and the portal access provides employers and applicants with up to date access on their applications.

The Employment Permits Act (2024) moved several operational matters to secondary legislation so that the system would be even more agile.

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.

To date in 2025 there have been 14,562 applications received and 14,625 permits have issued. There are approximately 2,000 applications currently awaiting processing.