Written answers

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Labour Market

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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220. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will address the inconsistency in advertising (details supplied) under the labour market needs test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35093/25]

Photo of Alan DillonAlan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Employment permits are a medium-term measure intended to fill skills gaps in areas necessary to the functioning of the economy. Employment permits policy is not intended to replace the critical work of upskilling the domestic workforce to meet future labour needs.

The Labour Market Needs Test (LMNT) is established in primary and secondary employment permits legislation requiring the vacancy be advertised under certain conditions to nationals of Ireland, the EEA, the UK or the Swiss Confederation before certain employment permits can be granted. Those conditions are set out under the Employment Permits Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 444 of 2024). In order to complete the LMNT for an employment permit, a vacancy must be advertised on JobsIreland, EURES and one or more other online platforms whose principal purpose is to publish offers of employment.

The JobsIreland and EURES platforms are Public Employment Services operated by the Department of Social Protection providing job advertising services to employers enabling Irish and EEA job seekers the opportunity to search for employment. JobsIreland is a free service, while some EURES services are at no cost. The service can provide expert guidance and resources to both jobseekers and employers helping them to promote jobs and match their requirements to jobseeker profiles using the latest technology.

Including these platforms in the LMNT process criteria ensures the employment permits system underpins the Government’s employment objectives by ensuring employment opportunities are accessible to those already in the local and EEA labour markets. The use of these employment services by employers in their advertising of applicable roles is not optional under the Employment Permits legislation.

The LMNT applies to the General Employment Permit, the Seasonal Employment Permit and the Contract for Services Employment Permit for eligible roles across all sectors, including the education and training sector. To maintain fairness and transparency in the employment permit system and comply with the Employment Permits Regulations 2024, it is not possible to make exceptions for individual applicants. There are no plans to alter the LMNT requirements for occupations where it is required. I note that there is nothing to preclude ETBs from advertising posts on JobsIreland and EURES as well as their usual advertising platforms.

LMNTs are not required for roles on the Critical Skills Occupations List, as they are highly skilled occupations which are experiencing labour or skill shortages which are required for the proper functioning of the Irish economy.

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