James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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284. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will consider adding poultry farms to the eligible list for general work permits due to the shortage of available workers in this field (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50340/26]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's employment permits system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA nationals to fill skills or labour shortages in the State in the short to medium term but is not a substitute or pretext for avoiding the challenge of up-skilling our resident workforce.

Access to employment permits is facilitated through the occupations lists, identifying highly skilled occupations with enduring shortages on the Critical Skills Occupations List (CSOL) and roles already well served by the labour market to which an employment permit cannot be granted are on the Ineligible Occupations List (IOL). Occupations not appearing on the IOL are eligible for an employment permit.

The role of poultry farm worker is listed on the IOL and is therefore not currently eligible for an employment permit.

Employment permit policy is kept under constant review to ensure it remains responsive to labour market needs. The review of the occupations lists process involves a public consultation inviting stakeholder submissions, consideration of research undertaken by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), and the Skills and the Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS.

The process is a delicate balancing act and is overseen by the Interdepartmental Group on Economic Migration Policy which includes representatives of key Government Departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Changes to the eligibility of an occupation, may be considered based on evidence and the support of the lead policy Government department, and where:

- no suitable Irish/EEA workers are available;

- industry has made efforts to train or recruit domestically;

- a genuine skills shortage exists, rather than unattractive working conditions and;

- public policy and development goals are not undermined.

Over 400 submissions were received as part of the most recent review of the occupations lists from a wide range of stakeholders across a variety of sectors. I announced the outcome of the review in May 2026, giving approval for 32 changes to jobs now eligible for employment permits. The review report can be accessed on the Department's website and is titled "Employment Permits Occupations Lists: Report of the Review 2025".

While poultry farming occupations where not submitted for consideration during the most recent review, my Department remains open to receiving detailed evidence from stakeholders demonstrating ongoing labour shortages, recruitment difficulties and the case for providing employment permit eligibility to roles within the poultry sector.

My Department will continue to monitor labour market developments and review employment permit policy to ensure that it supports enterprise, responds effectively to genuine skills and labour shortages, and remains aligned with Ireland's wider economic, social and workforce needs.