Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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392. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the average time for processing employment permit appeals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51944/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The employment permits system operates under the Employment Permits Act 2024, which provides the statutory framework for the granting, refusal, and review of employment permit applications. The system is designed to support Ireland’s labour market needs by allowing non-EEA nationals to take up employment in sectors where skills or labour shortages exist, subject to defined eligibility criteria.

Where an employment permit application is refused, the applicant has access to a statutory review mechanism under section 17 of the Act. This allows for the decision to be reconsidered, taking into account any additional information or clarification provided by the applicant.

In recent months, the Employment Permits Section of my Department has experienced a significant increase in the volume of appeals, particularly in the food and hospitality sector. This has contributed to longer processing times for appeals, which currently average approximately three months. A substantial proportion of these appeals relate to chef roles refused on the basis that the proposed employment settings were deemed to fall within the definition of a fast food establishment. This definition was revised in 2024 to ensure that employment permits are granted only for chef positions, in line with the policy intent of the employment permits system.

The Department has prioritised the allocation of resources to maintain timely processing of initial employment permit applications, which is essential to supporting enterprise and labour market needs.

The Department expects that the number of appeals will reduce over time following the introduction of the new Employment Permits Online (EPO) system in April 2025. The new system includes enhanced front-end validation and guidance features, which will help ensure that applications are complete and compliant at the point of submission. This is expected to reduce refusals on technical or procedural grounds and, consequently, the volume of appeals.

The Department remains committed to improving appeal processing times and continues to monitor the situation closely.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits issued in Ireland from 1 January to date in 2025, by nationality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51945/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Ireland operates a managed employment permits system, maximising the benefits of economic migration and minimising disruption to Ireland’s labour market.

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.

As of 26 September 2025, the department has issued 22,162 employment permits. A detailed breakdown by nationality is set out in the table below.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to an application (details supplied); if a timeframe for its progression can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51954/25]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware of this application and the subsequent appeal submitted by the individual referenced in the details supplied.

I am pleased to advise that following a review of the appeal, the individual has been granted a Critical Skills Employment Permit.

The Department remains committed to ensuring that appeals are processed in a timely and transparent manner and the Employment Permits system continues to support Ireland’s labour market needs by facilitating access to skilled workers in sectors experiencing shortages.