Vol. 525 No. 5
176 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of visas that have been issued by him to people who have applied for work permits under the Harney scheme of work permits introduced in May 2000 for certain categories of skills from non-EEA countries. [25525/00]
The working visa scheme covers high-skilled people in the information technology, nursing and construction sectors. Qualified people from non-EEA countries with job offers from employers in Ireland are given either working visas or work authorisations depending on whether the passports they hold are of visa-required countries.
In the five months to 31 October 2000, 611 working visas and 221 work authorisations, making a total of 832, were issued by Irish embassies and consulates.
