Vol. 566 No. 1
168 Mr. Haughey asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if an employer can apply for a work permit for a foreign national to be employed as a Montessori school teacher following the publication of new procedures in this regard on 9 April 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12197/03]
The new procedures introduced on 9 April 2003 do not affect applications in respect of Montessori school teachers. It is the policy of the Department that employers should seek to employ an Irish-EEA national before applying for a work permit in respect of a non-EEA national. As evidence of this it is necessary to advertise with FÁS. Where the FÁS assessment is that, in light of experience, specific skills are not available on the Irish or wider EEA labour markets, the four week advertising period may be waived. Applications for permits will not be accepted without the appropriate documentation from FÁS.
Information regarding occupational categories which are currently regarded as ineligible for work permits may be obtained from the Departments web site at www.entemp.ie.
